THE Kek Lok Si Charitable Medical Centre is the first Buddhist non-profit hospital in the State that is open only to Malaysians.
Board member and medical superintendent Datuk Dr Teng Hock said the medical fees in the hospital will be the lowest in the state and the hospital relies fully on public donations and contributions.
He thanked the Penang government for its allocation of RM200, 000 to the hospital and hoped that the state will consider making an annual contribution.
“Since the hospital runs fully on donations and the hospital’s expenses is very high, we hope the state will consider approving annual funding for the hospital to be released in the beginning of each year,” he said when Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow visited the hospital recently.
Chow said the 50-bed hospital has seven resident consultants, two medical officers, two sessional consultants and one visiting consultant. The hospital also aims to get an oncologist on board to treat cancer patients in future.
“It is equipped with state-of-the- art medical facilities and devices and the 130 staff members are ready to serve once the approval from the Cawangan Kawalan Amalan Perubatan Swasta (CKAPS) of the Penang Health Department is obtained,” he said.
Chow said the charges at the hospital, which is open to all Malaysians regardless of race or religion, will be lower than other non-profit hospitals in the state.
“Patients who are unable to pay the full amount of his or her bill can apply for subsidy from Yayasan Kek Lok Si,” he said.
He said the hospital is also one of the first private hospitals that does not charge nursing procedure fees for its in-patients.
