Deputy minister calls for devolution of authority by Private Medical Practice Control Section to Sarawak

By Brad Rantayy

MIRI, June 17: The devolution of authority by the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS) at the federal level need to be decentralised to Sarawak to expedite the approval at facilities here, says Deputy Health Minister of Malaysia, Lukanisman Awang Sauni.

“This would also help quicken the decision-making process and address some matters, besides reducing ‘red tape’,” he told reporters during a working visit to the Miri Dialysis Centre in Permyjaya today.

Red tape refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that hinders or prevents action or decision-making.

Lukanisman was responding to Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sei Lee Kim Shin, also the chairman of the Malaysia Red Crescent (MRC) Dialysis Centre Miri, who appealed to expedite several matters involving the Tudan MRC dialysis centre, including approval for its clinical waste disposal and licensing matters.

Tudan MRC Dialysis Centre could accommodate up to 40 machines, but due to the long wait for approval from Putrajaya, the centre is currently operating with only 12 machines.

“We also have insufficient staff apart from the machines because we have to wait for the CKAPS at the federal level for approval,” said Lee.

Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong was also present. — DayakDaily