By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 13: Drones, teleconsultation and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted healthcare are among the options that could be explored to improve rural medical services following last week’s fatal helicopter crash, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
However, Dr Sim said the authorities must first await the formal investigation report into the Sept 8 crash near the Marudi STOLport before determining what further measures are needed.
“We are waiting for the formal report to come out to see what else we need to do,” he said when met after visiting the family of fallen nurse Debra Moset at their residence here today.
Dr Sim said the Flying Doctor Service remained necessary for Sarawak’s remote communities, but there was a need to look at how rural healthcare could be delivered and strengthened moving forward.
“We never question about the needs, but it’s just how to improve it further,” he said.
He said the review could include teleconsultation, the use of drones, improved road facilities and having more clinics in rural areas.
He also said AI-assisted doctors and other emerging technologies should be considered as technology continued to advance.
“Technology like drones, 10 years ago was not available, but now it’s available. And then the AI-assisted doctors and all those things, we need to look at how to move forwards,” he said.
Dr Sim stressed that these were possibilities to be explored and should not be treated as conclusions on the cause of the crash.
“There’s no point to speculate. Because people can say all sorts of things,” he said.
He said the Flying Doctor Service had played an important role in providing healthcare to rural communities over the years, while paying tribute to the nurses, doctors and pilots who had dedicated themselves to the service.
The tragedy, he added, had also highlighted the importance of healthcare personnel, particularly when Sarawak was already facing a shortage of doctors and nurses.
“It’s not only losing a life, but you’re losing a lot of expertise. Especially when you are short of doctors, you’re short of nurses, so everyone of them is very important for Sarawak,” he said.
Dr Sim disclosed that about 18 per cent of posts under the Sarawak Health Department remained vacant, amounting to more than 5,000 positions.
He said the State government had raised the manpower issue with the Public Service Department (JPA), including during Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) discussions, and was seeking a special task force and special recruitment mechanism for Sarawak.
“We need a special task force, special recruitment, so that we can help ourselves and don’t need to depend on Kuala Lumpur all the time,” he said.
On whether the Sarawak government would assist the federal government in strengthening rural healthcare services, Dr Sim said this would depend on discussions with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
He said Sarawak had previously provided funding assistance for healthcare digitalisation and was prepared to help again if requested.
“If the federal government requests, we will definitely help. We will, in whichever way we can,” he said.
Dr Sim also extended his deepest condolences to Debra’s husband, mother and two children, saying the loss was deeply felt by her family, colleagues and the wider community.
He said the tragedy should not become a time for finger-pointing, but an opportunity for the relevant authorities to study the findings and determine the best way forward.
“This is not a time of finger-pointing, but a time to come together, a time to see how we get things done, and the final solutions,” he said.
The helicopter crash occurred on Sept 8 when a BO-105 helicopter carrying five people crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) airport in Marudi.
The remains of all five victims were identified on Sept 9 through DNA analysis as pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and staff nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44. — DayakDaily
