KUCHING: Healthcare manpower disparities affecting Sarawak will be raised at the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Technical Committee meeting next week.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said national policies are often applied across Malaysia without accounting for Sarawak’s unique constraints, particularly in rural areas where manpower and expertise are limited.
He made these remarks to reporters during the Community Bubur Lambuk Distribution Programme at the Stutong Ramadan Bazaar here today.
He cited medical assistants in rural clinics who help administer anaesthesia, noting that while peninsula hospitals have enough doctors to perform such procedures independently, Sarawak lacks sufficient specialists to implement these policies fully.
Dr Sim highlighted staffing disparities between hospitals of similar size, pointing out that Sarawak General Hospital, with 1,000 beds, has only about 4,500 staff compared to roughly 5,500 in a comparable hospital in the peninsula.
“Over the years, Sarawak’s staffing posts were not increased. As a result, our doctors, nurses, and paramedics have to work extra hard,” he said, emphasising that despite the shortage of nearly 1,000 positions, healthcare services in Sarawak continue to run efficiently with minimal complaints.
He stressed that exemptions or special approaches should be considered for Sarawak, as many policies were formulated without consulting the state.
Dr Sim confirmed that the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof is set for March 5, while the session with the Health Minister is still pending, awaiting the minister’s availability.
“I am ready. The ministry only needs to set a time and bring the relevant officers for further discussion,” he added.
