GEORGE TOWN, Nov 4 — The Penang Hospital will be given a massive RM15.2 million facelift to prevent untoward incidences like what happened in Johor’s Sultanah Aminah Hospital recently, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.

The Balik Pulau MP said the upgrading works will include expanding the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the paediatric ward and repair works for the medical gas equipment and air conditioning system in several sections of the hospital.

"Works are expected to start next week and it is expected to be completed within a six month period,” he told reporters at the launch of World Heart Day 2016 at the Penang Hospital here.

The upgrading works will also involve 10 operating theatres that will be closed during the six months, he added.

Dr Hilmi said all patients who need major operations will be sent to other hospitals such as the Seberang Jaya Hospital, the Bukit Mertajam Hospital and Kepala Batas Hospital.

He said the ministry is now conducting a thorough study to prevent fatalities if any incidences like fire were to break out in government hospitals.

"One of the proposals we are considering is to relocate the ICU to the ground floor and if this proposal is approved, it will be implemented in all government hospitals in the country,” he said.

However, he said the proposal will be a good move as most ICUs are located on the upper floors which makes it difficult for hospital employees and nurses to move the patients who are mostly bed-ridden.

"With the ICU on the ground floor, the process of moving them and the equipment will be easier and they can be saved,” he said.

He admitted that most of the country’s government hospitals are within old buildings so there are many other aspects to study as a whole before making any final decision on changes to be made to these hospitals.

"We are not thinking about fire prevention but also other natural disasters like earth quakes,” he said.

When asked about the full report of the fire at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Dr Hilmi said it is yet to be completed.

On October 25, fire broke out at the Johor hospital and claimed six lives, all of whom were patients in the ICU.