THE Sarawak Medical Committee (SMC) is expected to begin processing applications from medical practitioners wishing to serve in the state starting January next year, marking a significant step forward in Sarawak’s move toward greater healthcare autonomy.
Deputy Premier and Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state currently has 27,255 government healthcare personnel, with 5,106 approved posts still vacant, including 930 doctor and 2,300 nurse positions.
“My ministry will continue to pursue health autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including the delegation of power from the federal government to the Sarawak Health Department,” he said his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.
On a related note, he said the Sarawak State Health Department received RM2.96 billion in operating funds and RM505.3 million in development funds for operations, human capital, facility repairs, support services and medical equipment procurement.
“Currently, Sarawak has 27,255 government healthcare personnel, including 1,838 serving on a contract basis, out of the 30,523 approved positions,” he said.
He said out of the approved posts, there are 5,106 posts that are yet to be filled.
“The number of approved doctors posts that are still vacant is 930, whereas for nurses there are 2,300 vacancies.
“If compared to national doctor to population ratio, Sarawak is short of 1,871 doctors as highlighted by Nangka assemblyman in this august House last week.
“Is West Malaysian so sick, needs so many doctors or Sarawakian so healthy, needs so few doctors?” he said.
He also thanked the Ministry of Health (MoH) for reviewing manpower needs in seven of Sarawak’s 23 hospitals, which identified the requirement for 11,127 additional posts, including 1,567 doctors and 4,881 nurses.
On infrastructure, Dr Sim said the Lawas Hospital has reached 95.86 per cent physical progress, while the Petra Jaya Hospital stands at 84.99 per cent after an approved extension of time to February 2026.
He also acknowledged Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof’s leadership in advancing MA63 discussions.
“Among the matters discussed under MA63 is the delegation of power to regulate private healthcare facilities and services vested by Cawangan Kawalan Amalan Perubatan Swasta (CKAPS) to the Sarawak Health Department, which had previously been agreed upon but is now being reviewed by MoH,” he said.
