KUCHING: The expansion of palliative care services in Sarawak is being significantly constrained by a shortage of trained personnel, according to the Housing, Public Health and Local Government Deputy Minister, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee.
He said this at a press conference during the Asia-Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference (APHC) 2025, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching today.
Tiang explained that while progress has been made in developing palliative care services across the state, the lack of skilled professionals remains a major obstacle to meeting the growing demand.
“Personnel are the foundation of palliative care. Without enough trained professionals, we cannot ensure the quality of care that our communities need,” he said.
He emphasised the need to focus on education and training to build a workforce capable of supporting and expanding these services.
With 89 health clinics in Sarawak involved in providing palliative care, Tiang acknowledged the challenge of addressing the shortage of qualified staff and ensuring continued growth.
“We need to prioritise education and training to fill this gap,” he added.
Tiang also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring that palliative care is accessible to all residents, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas.
“Everyone should have access to quality palliative care,” he said.
