KUCHING: A community-driven initiative to provide dedicated palliative care for cancer patients is helping strengthen Sarawak’s healthcare support system while easing pressure on public hospitals.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Kuching Life Care Society’s palliative care facility demonstrated how collaboration between the community, private sector and government could ensure patients receive appropriate care during the final stages of life.
He said such facilities were particularly important as not all families had the knowledge, resources or capacity to provide intensive care for cancer patients at home.
“The Kuching Life Care Society is the first privately developed palliative care facility in Sarawak, with a capacity of up to 58 beds, including 35 beds allocated for government use to provide quality palliative care to patients, particularly those in the final stages of life,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the presentation of gifts and charitable donation at Panggung MBKS, Taman Kuching, Jalan Padungan last night (Aug 14).
Dr Sim said the facility was developed through a community-funded initiative at a cost of approximately RM16 million before being utilised through collaboration with the government.
The partnership also allows government healthcare personnel to provide care to patients at the facility, helping to reduce the burden on public hospital facilities.
He said the initiative reflected Sarawak’s spirit of shared responsibility, where communities do not rely solely on the government to address every need but instead come forward to contribute and work together for the welfare of the people.
“This approach reflects the spirit of Sarawak, where the community does not simply expect the government to address every need, but instead steps forward to take responsibility and work together to ensure the welfare of the people continues to be safeguarded,” he said.
