SIBU: Sarawak should embark on a collaboration with private healthcare centres to provide better healthcare facilities for the state.
According to Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, although these centres are part of the private sector, it does not mean they cannot help the public at large or work together with the government.
“I met our Deputy Minister of Health, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, who is from Sarawak. We were chit-chatting for about half an hour during our PBB convention in Kuching this morning.
“I told him there are two things I want him to do for Sarawak. Number one, please bring the cancer centre to Sibu.
“Some of the leaders might not like it, but this is my personal view,” he said at the Rejang Medical Centre’s (RMC) 22nd anniversary dinner here last night (Jan 19).
He added that Sibu, being located in the central zone of Sarawak, makes the establishment of a cancer centre even more crucial.
“As you know, cancer patients travel frequently for follow-ups and treatment. It’s not a one-off treatment.
“Therefore, in terms of logistics, Sibu is the best location for such a centre to be built in Sarawak,” he added.
Meanwhile, the second issue discussed was healthcare services in Sarawak.
“I told him that there is no way the government can provide good healthcare services in Sarawak without the help of the private sector.
“Not only in terms of coverage but also in terms of better equipment and facilities that the people can enjoy,” he said.
He stressed that if the state waited for the government to establish such facilities, it could take another election or even two or three elections.
“It will never be immediate. That’s why I told him (Lukanisman) that it is important to arrange to buy services from the private sector so that the people, at last, will benefit from the services the private healthcare sector can provide,” he said.
He added that purchasing services from private entities might be cheaper compared to building such facilities.
“In terms of sustainability, the private sector can provide better sustainable services compared to the government sector because many doctors in the government will eventually resign to join the private sector.
“Therefore, it is better to work together with the private sector in providing better healthcare services to the people of Sarawak.
“So these are the two things I discussed with Lukanisman during our half-hour conversation, and I think he agreed with me about buying these services,” he added.
Also present were Senator Robert Lau, RMC managing director Dr John Tang and RMC director Dr Peter Tang Ing Bing.
