KUCHING: The provision of spiritual and emotional support facilities in hospitals plays an important role in helping patients, families and healthcare workers cope with the pressures of a demanding medical environment.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the availability of a multi-faith prayer hall at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) under the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Sarawak is among the comprehensive support initiatives seldom found in other hospitals nationwide.
According to him, such facilities provide a space of calm not only for patients and their families, but also for hospital staff, including doctors and nurses, who face high levels of stress in their daily responsibilities.
He noted that while hospitals are inherently challenging workplaces, the mental and emotional strain experienced by healthcare workers often receives less attention compared to that faced by patients and their families.
“For patients and families, various forms of support have been provided and awareness of these needs is growing, although there is still room for improvement. However, what specific support is given to medical staff who also experience prolonged stress?” he said.
He said this in his speech during the 2nd United Nations (UN) Meditation Day at Multifaith Prayer Hall, SGH here today (Dec 21).
He added that meditation and mindfulness should extend beyond personal well-being to benefit Sarawak’s healthcare system and society as a whole.
Such practices, he said, must evolve into a broader movement that gives back to Sarawak, which he described as home not only to locals but also to doctors and professionals serving in the state.
“What are you going to do for Sarawak? It is important to pause and reflect so that doctors learn from you, hospitals learn from you and patients learn from you — but you must also learn,” he said.
Dr Sim stressed that leadership and progress are built over time, noting that many senior doctors began their careers in Sarawak before going on to influence others.
“Things do not fall from the sky. This is my house, my airport before, and now they have become senior doctors. Not only senior doctors, but they influence each other,” he said, adding that he does not take matters involving the heart lightly.
He said stress and burnout are realities faced by medical professionals, describing them as part of being human, and highlighted meditation as an effective coping mechanism.
“Despite everything, doctors get stressed and can burn out. This is human. That is why meditation and these practices are good coping mechanisms — to pause, think, reflect and focus,” he said.
He also welcomed spiritual movements such as the Brahma Kumaris, noting that Raja Yoga meditation, which began in 1937, is now practised in 170 countries, but stressed the importance of grounding such practices in Sarawak’s context.
“I welcome all this, but you must remember we are in Sarawak. Think of Sarawak. We can share with others. It is not just about always taking from you,” he said.
