(Bandar Seri Begawan, 9th) The Brunei government responded to the issue of insufficient beds at RIPAS Hospital during the second session of the 21st meeting of parliament in 2025, announcing a series of both temporary and long-term measures to address this urgent healthcare challenge.
Minister of Health Dato Isham pointed out that since RIPAS Hospital began operations in 1984, it has consistently served as the country's main medical center. However, with a growing number of patients, the shortage of beds has become a pressing issue that must be resolved.
To increase bed turnover rates, the Ministry of Health has optimized the patient discharge process, particularly targeting cases where discharge is delayed for non-medical reasons (such as families being unprepared to take patients home), and is actively seeking solutions. Patients who are long-term inpatients but already meet discharge criteria will be transferred to the National Isolation Centre Extension (NICE), a facility currently being modified to cater to the needs of long-stay patients. For patients who have been abandoned or neglected, the Ministry of Health will cooperate with social welfare agencies to intervene.
In addition, the authorities have implemented a “bed transfer” strategy, sending patients in urgent need of treatment to other medical institutions, such as the Prince Court Hospital, to ensure timely care.
In terms of infrastructure, the Ministry of Health has reviewed existing plans and proposed a range of measures, including:
the construction of a 500-bed hospital building with a budget of 120 million Brunei dollars, to be incorporated in the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12); optimizing the use of hospital space by relocating ophthalmology services to more suitable premises, thus alleviating overcrowding and freeing up emergency beds.
Isham emphasized that before the construction of the new hospital is completed, these initiatives are aimed at improving RIPAS Hospital's patient capacity through the optimization of resource allocation and space utilization, ensuring patients receive timely treatment and care.
The Ministry of Health pledged to continue strengthening the nation's medical infrastructure to face future challenges and provide the public with high-quality healthcare services.
To increase bed turnover rates, the Ministry of Health has optimized the patient discharge process, particularly targeting cases where discharge is delayed for non-medical reasons (such as families being unprepared to take patients home), and is actively seeking solutions. Patients who are long-term inpatients but already meet discharge criteria will be transferred to the National Isolation Centre Extension (NICE), a facility currently being modified to cater to the needs of long-stay patients. For patients who have been abandoned or neglected, the Ministry of Health will cooperate with social welfare agencies to intervene.
In addition, the authorities have implemented a “bed transfer” strategy, sending patients in urgent need of treatment to other medical institutions, such as the Prince Court Hospital, to ensure timely care.
In terms of infrastructure, the Ministry of Health has reviewed existing plans and proposed a range of measures, including:
the construction of a 500-bed hospital building with a budget of 120 million Brunei dollars, to be incorporated in the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12); optimizing the use of hospital space by relocating ophthalmology services to more suitable premises, thus alleviating overcrowding and freeing up emergency beds.
Isham emphasized that before the construction of the new hospital is completed, these initiatives are aimed at improving RIPAS Hospital's patient capacity through the optimization of resource allocation and space utilization, ensuring patients receive timely treatment and care.
The Ministry of Health pledged to continue strengthening the nation's medical infrastructure to face future challenges and provide the public with high-quality healthcare services.