By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 17: Deputy Minister of Health, Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni, has been tasked with addressing the return of over 800 Sarawakian medical personnel eager to serve in their home state, revealed Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
During a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Putrajaya last week, Dr Sim informed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad that more than 800 Sarawakian nurses and paramedics are ready to return home, with over 1,000 vacant positions available.
“After my visit, I was given an understanding that the Deputy Health Minister (Lukanisman) immediately chaired a meeting to look into the 800 staff.
“Yes, we need more new staff and all those things, but we have so many problems.
“If we can bring those 800 Sarawakians home, because they want to come home, then at least it’s better than nothing. That’s a start,” he told reporters after witnessing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing between Sarawak Energy Berhad and Roche Malaysia held at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here today.
Dr Sim stressed that Sarawak faces a severe shortage of healthcare personnel, with the state having 45 per cent fewer hospital beds and 54 per cent fewer doctors compared to the national average.
In the context of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) alone, there are 409 medical officer (MO) posts, but only 387 are filled.
According to Dr Sim, with the number of hospital beds increasing to 1,000, the ideal number should be about 563 MOs, an increase of 150.
“We are not asking to be better than (Peninsula), just to be equal. How can Sarawak have 45 per cent fewer beds and 54 per cent fewer doctors? Unless we are so healthy, which we are not. Otherwise, we are treated as second-class citizens,” he lamented.
He also emphasised that the establishment of the Sarawak Medical Council, which has been approved by the Malaysian Medical Council, will further help the state manage its own healthcare manpower and registration of doctors.
“We believe that if the Sarawak government is given the authority to manage healthcare funding and manpower, we can do better,” he stated. – DayakDaily
