26-05-2025
Smooth ambulance transfers, new facilities in Segamat
Ambulance responses in Johor are coordinated through the MECC that ensures clinic and hospital-based support. — Filepic
SEGAMAT Hospital is equipped to handle medical emergencies within the district, a Johor exco says.
These include calls that involve road transfers of patients between medical facilities.
Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the hospital's six ambulances met the district's emergency and inter-facility transfer needs.
'The hospital maintains a daily bed occupancy rate of 78%.
'This is within manageable limits,' he said during the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
He was replying to N. Saraswati (BN-Kemelah), Ng Kor Sim (PH-Jementah) and Fauziah Misri (BN-Penawar) who raised concerns about ambulances and health services within their respective constituencies.
Ling said Segamat Hospital had begun operations at a RM75mil facility that was handed over for use on Feb 25, 2023, and officially opened on April 1 that year.
He said a new RM26mil health clinic would open in Segamat on July 31.
'Ambulances attend to about 78% to 89% of calls in the Segamat district within 15 minutes.
'The remaining 11% to 22% of calls receive ambulance assistance within the 16- to 34-minute range,' he added.
Ling further said that nearby health clinics were also equipped with ambulances and assist in covering emergencies closer to their areas.
'These efforts are coordinated through the Medical Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC), a system used nationwide.
'It ensures that ambulance response is not solely hospital-based but includes clinic support as well,' he added.
Ling said Johor would soon receive 45 new ambulances under a federal initiative.
The state government, he said, was also funding four additional ambulances for the Tangkak, Batu Pahat, Mersing and Kota Tinggi districts.
'To improve emergency services, RM1.2mil has been allocated to upgrade emergency wards in 12 public hospitals across the state,' he said.
Ling said the funds, announced by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, would be used for medical equipment purchases and renovation works.
'This reflects our commitment to enhancing the public healthcare system and providing a more comfortable, efficient environment for patients,' he added. ― By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH and RHEMA SENG
