Upgrading works for Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) had entered into the second phase in May this year and expected to be completed in 22 months.

According to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, the construction will make the hospital into a premiere hospital. Among the buildings affected include the patient ward, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and operation theatre.

A plaza with banking services and post office will also be built for the public. The government has approved allocation to build a seven-storey car park and additional ward block to cater to the patients.

All construction works are expected to be completed by 2017.

In March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak opened the new operational wing, the Specialist Complex and Ambulatory Care Centre (SCACC) at HKL.

The eight-storey building was built on 1.38 hectare area facing Jalan Pahang. It hosts all the clinics covering 16 treatment and medical areas as well as 184 consultation rooms.

HKL began its operation in 1870 and caters to thousands of patients every day. With the increase in the number of patients and parking woes, more space is needed to cope with the demand.