Source: Google Street View

The Bukit Mertajam Hospital (HBM) will expand its facilities with the addition of a new wing on land formerly occupied by the abandoned Bukit Mertajam Resthouse.

The Penang government has approved the concession of the 3.2ha site, located across the road from the hospital, to address rising healthcare needs.

Human Resources Minister and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said the expansion project is at the design stage.

“Hospital Bukit Mertajam now has about 240 beds. We hope to at least double that with the upgrade,” he told reporters after a visit to the hospital.

Sim added that he will meet Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to expedite planning approval and secure federal support for the project.

The former resthouse was among several colonial-era facilities that provided accommodation for government officers during work travel. It has remained abandoned for years as hotels became more prevalent.

Sim’s visit followed the hospital’s recognition at the 2025 Hospital Management Asia Awards, where it won the Gold Award for Most Sustainable Hospital in Asia.

“This is no ordinary feat for a 135-year-old hospital,” he said, noting that energy use had been reduced by nearly 11%, equivalent to planting about 4,000 trees and avoiding 350 tonnes of carbon emissions. The savings also cut operating costs by RM250,000 last year.

He credited initiatives such as the hospital’s zero-waste programme, a paperless emergency department and upgraded toilet facilities. His office contributed RM200,000 to improve sanitation facilities, which he described as vital in a healthcare environment.

Sim also highlighted the installation of a RM5mil CT scanner last year, secured during his tenure in the Finance Ministry. The scanner has enabled the hospital to serve about 6,500 patients annually, reducing the need for transfers to other hospitals in Seberang Jaya or George Town.

Hospital director Dr R. Prashant thanked Sim for his continued support, saying annual allocations had helped modernise services ranging from IT upgrades to medical equipment.

“The expansion will strengthen the hospital’s ability to serve the Bukit Mertajam community,” he said.