BY JACINTHA JOLENE & AMYLY YONG
KUCHING: UNIMAS Holdings and KPMG have been appointed as the consultants for the development of the Sarawak Public Health Master Plan 2050 study.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the study, funded by the Sarawak government, will span a period of nine months, starting from March and concluding in November this year.
As part of the study, he said UNIMAS Holdings and KPMG will visit relevant government departments, agencies, private sector organisations and health-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to gather data and conduct discussions.
“The consultants (UNIMAS Holdings and KPMG) will also conduct a population survey where they will interview 7,000 people.
“The survey is set to commence in mid-April and will continue until the end of July this year,” he told a press conference on the masterplan held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Noting that Sarawak continues to lag behind Peninsular Malaysia in various aspects of health services, Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, said there is an urgent need for the development of the public health master plan.
“The master plan is a strategy to move towards health equity.
“This means, whether you are rich or poor, everybody should have access to health services,” he added.
The objective of this study is to formulate a holistic and strategic framework to prevent disease, promote health, and enhance the overall well-being of Sarawakians.
The plan will include a comprehensive strategy, legal and institutional frameworks, and systematic action plans to improve the governance, public health infrastructure and services across the state.
