Sarawak Health Metropolis

SARAWAK HEALTH METROPOLIS

INTRODUCTION

Sarawak Health Metropolis is a master plan for the health metropolis and detailed its role in providing world-class public healthcare, medical research and education in the state. The Health Metropolis as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the last Sarawak State Election will be one of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA). The time has also come for Sarawak to lessen its dependence on the dwindling commodity-based natural resources. Our true wealth lies in our people and the talent they possess.The Health Metropolis would be the latest addition to the Kuching-Kota Samarahan Corridor, which already consists of two major universities – Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and University Technology Malaysia (UiTM), the Samajaya Free Industrial Zone, Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre and new housing estates.

BENEFITS AND GOALS OF SARAWAK HEALTH METROPOLIS

• The Sarawak Metropolis is expected to be a thriving centre full of ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. The proposed Sarawak Health Metropolis will provide up to 3,000 new job opportunities and generate over RM100 million per year when fully completed. The project is expected to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimated around RM500 million. Besides, the project will boast residential, hotel projects besides the building of new general hospitals.

• This project will also help to plug BRAIN DRAIN from Sarawak. This approach will help to retain our best and brightest and attract others to come and build careers and lives in Sarawak. Besides making medical facilities accessible to the people, he hopes it would attract international talent and multinational companies associated with the healthcare industry to partner and invest in Sarawak.

• The metropolis would have universities for MEDICAL EDUCATION in traditional medicine and modern medicine practices; healthcare and biotechnology research facilities as well as manufacturing facilities for prescription drugs and medical equipment. Collaboration with Chinese and Singaporean instituitions will be carried on a joint venture basis to provide training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

• The Sarawak Health Metropolis using biomedical high-technology would increase not only the QUALITY OF LIFE for all Malaysians but also prolong their life expectancy and good health. It will also put Malaysia into the top of nations with excellent healthcare.

• The Health Metropolis will also be a central of excellence for healthcare RESEARCH such as pharmaceutical and drugs research. This coupled with the rich biodiversity of Sarawak can help contribute to the findings of new drugs for humanity. This will encourage local students to be involved in Research and Development activities which in our aspiration to be a developed countries.

• The project will also help in the TOURISM sector, especially health tourism. There is a market around Southeast Asia whereby Sarawak can be a centre for affordable health treatment for neighbouring countries. Currently, a lot of Indonesian patient sought treatment in Sarawak. With such facilities, Sarawak can attract patient from as far as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, etc.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

The project will be proposed to be  implemented at a 200 acre site at Kuching-Samarahn Highway. The project could be carried out in a few phases and emphasis will be placed on developing it on a green and suistainable environment. The project will also propose to have a full-time management team to oversee and to promote the Health Metropolis.