By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, March 3: Sarawak needs at least 30 colorectal surgeons in the region as opposed to having only three presently, says Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Presently, the three surgeons in Sarawak are based in Kuching – one each in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), while the last one is stationed in Sibu Hospital.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government further noted that it is ideal for Malaysia to have about 200 to 300 colorectal surgeons, where he believes Sarawak which contributes 10 per cent of the population of the country, needs 10 per cent of the ideal number of colorectal surgeons.
He told this to reporters after the opening ceremony of Coloproctology 2023 conference held at Pullman Hotel here today.
Earlier, Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons (MSCRS) president and Coloproctology 2023 organising chairperson Prof Dr April Camilla Roslani informed that Malaysia presently have less than 80 colorectal surgeons with most of them are based in Peninsular Malaysia, while Sarawak only has three.
Zooming in on Sarawak, she said a lot of colorectal cancer cases are managed by general surgeons but stressed that there is a need for Sarawak to have its own specialists to deal with the more advance and complex cancers.
For the record, Sarawak reports about 350 colorectal cancer cases every year.
With the theme ‘Beyond Precision’, the Coloproctology 2023 conference organised by MSCRS will commence until March 5. — DayakDaily
