The Health Ministry will increase monitoring of concession companies which maintain facilities in government hospitals and health clinics nationwide, said its minister, Dr S Subramaniam.

He said the ministry was not happy with the maintenance works at government hospitals and clinics following several reports that lifts and air-conditioners were out of order.

As such, he said, the ministry would improve the engineering division so that it could conduct a more thorough monitoring.

"Since June last year, we have imposed fines of up to RM6 million on the concession companies, and if need be, we will impose heavier penalties," he said in a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry would not hesitate to apply all clauses in the agreements to take action against the concessionaires if there were maintenance problems which disrupted the services of government hospitals and clinics.

- Bernama