Time Is Life: Hulu Selangor Can No Longer Wait for a Government Specialist Hospital, Says Dr Sathia

PETALING JAYA: As efforts continue to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure, greater attention should also be given to the needs of semi-urban and rural areas such as Hulu Selangor, alongside plans to build a new government hospital in Petaling Jaya.

Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan said the proposed hospital in Petaling Jaya is important and should proceed as planned. However, he stressed that the needs of areas like Hulu Selangor should not continue to be overlooked.

According to him, Hulu Selangor covers nearly 20% of Selangor’s land area and is larger than the state of Melaka, with an estimated population of about 300,000 people. With continued population growth, new housing developments and rising healthcare demands, the district requires more serious attention from the government.

“Time is life. We cannot continue wasting the time of Hulu Selangor residents when it comes to accessing specialist treatment,” he said.

He noted that residents of Hulu Selangor still rely on hospitals outside the district, including Hospital Selayang, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Slim River and other nearby facilities, to obtain specialist care. As a result, many are forced to endure long journeys, traffic congestion, parking difficulties and lengthy waiting times.

“In healthcare, every minute matters. When patients have to travel long distances for treatment, especially senior citizens, pregnant women, chronic disease patients or those facing medical emergencies, delays can have serious consequences. Time is life. We cannot afford to waste time,” he said.

He added that a large proportion of patients seeking treatment at major urban hospitals in the future, including the proposed facility in Petaling Jaya, are expected to come from semi-urban and rural areas such as Hulu Selangor.

As such, healthcare planning at the state level must take into account rapidly developing areas that still lack access to government specialist services.

“Healthcare is not about politics or which area gets a hospital first. Every community deserves access to quality healthcare. But for Hulu Selangor, the need for a government specialist hospital has become increasingly urgent,” he said.