KUCHING: Sarawak is stepping up efforts to improve wound management amid rising diabetes-related complications.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said better wound care is now a critical part of the state’s response to the growing diabetes crisis, which affects nearly 20 per cent of the population.
Dr Sim said the rising number of diabetes cases is already straining Sarawak’s healthcare system and called for greater focus on both prevention and long-term care.
“Almost every week at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), there is at least one case of leg amputation due to diabetic ulcers that fail to heal.
“When infection sets in and threatens the rest of the body, doctors have no choice but to amputate.
“After an amputation, you face all sorts of social issues. You have to adapt to prosthetics, and there are also mental health challenges.
“That’s why proper wound management is a major benefit,” he said after officiating at the Fifth International Burn and Wound Conference 2025 here today.
Dr Sim said wound management goes beyond clinical service, as Sarawak aims to strengthen its position in medical research and regenerative medicine.
He pointed out that Sarawak’s clinical research sector has grown steadily over the past decade and now contributes significantly to the state’s economy.
“Service is important – our hospitals, clinics, all those things – but we also need to focus on research.
“With the right compounds and capabilities, this could lead to new branches of medicine, including regenerative medicine.
“This research industry took ten years to grow. At first, no one knew us (Sarawak). But now it’s a billion-ringgit business, and this is just the beginning,” he said.
He said this shift was possible because Sarawak’s healthcare standards have now reached international levels.
“Previously, our so-called ‘jungle of Borneo’ standard wasn’t good enough. But today, it meets global expectations, which is why international companies are coming to us,” he added.
Dr Sim said the research sector is highly sustainable compared to infrastructure development, which has its limits.
He noted that while projects like the Pan Borneo and coastal highways are necessary, they cannot be built endlessly.
In contrast, he said medical research will always be in demand due to the constant need for new drugs, viruses and treatments.
“That’s why the Premier started the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre.
“It’s part of our strategy to build a full-spectrum medical ecosystem. Not just services, but research and manufacturing too,” he said.
