BY JACINTHA JOLENE & LAKESH
KUCHING: The Sarawak government hopes its request to the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) to fill vacancies for Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs) will be fulfilled.
Sarawak’s Chief Assistant Medical Officer Samsuri Md Isa said this was crucial to overcoming current challenges in the healthcare sector due to staffing gaps.
“I hope the vacancies for AMOs in Sarawak will be filled as requested by the Sarawak government through the proposal made by the Minister of Health, Housing, and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, to the Malaysian Minister of Health, so that this gap can be reduced, allowing us to continue developing better plans for the profession and career development,” said Samsuri in his opening speech during the state-level Assistant Medical Officer Day held at the Sarawak Heart Centre today (Mar 22).
He added that the addition of positions would provide better access for the community and enhance career progression for medical assistants, enabling them to pursue further education at the diploma, degree, master’s, and even doctoral levels.
“Furthermore, the increase in positions is expected to give a fresh breath to our responsibilities and help reduce stress or burnout among us,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said that this year’s event is celebrated with the theme ‘Digital Revolution: Evolution of the Smart Medical Assistant,’ which also highlights the important role of AMOs in adapting to technological innovations.
“This includes enhancing healthcare service efficiency, expanding access to quality treatment, and ensuring the delivery of medical services is more responsive, effective, and futuristic.
“Next year, Sarawak has been honored to host the National Assistant Medical Officer Day celebration. However, we need to discuss with associations and unions regarding the event’s costs and other related matters,” he said.
