SEBERANG JAYA, May 2 - The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) received the official handover of the new block building of the Seberang Jaya Hospital (HSJ), here today.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad said the construction of the nine-storey building will become the northern zone's main referral centre for pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic treatment.

The project, which cost RM486.2 million, will house 316 beds, six operating theatres and seven types of multidisciplinary wards, including the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU).

This increases HSJ's total capacity to 729 beds and 11 operating theatres, strengthening its status as the main referral hospital in the northern zone, thus reducing its dependence on the Penang Hospital.

"Pediatric cardiology is a northern zone referral centre for cardiology services, thus reducing congestion," he said.

He said this after the Official Handover Ceremony of the HSJ Multi-Storey Block Project from the Ministry of Works (KKR) to the Ministry of Health.

The HSJ additional building construction project which began in 2016 was initially scheduled to be completed in 2020.

However, it was delayed due to the Movement Control Order due to COVID-19, three years ago.