SIBU, Jan 8: The return of healthcare autonomy to the State by the federal government is the right move as it will lead to better health facilities.
“The Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government will like to ensure that the State will have autonomy over health (matters) as only the state government knows best what is needed to be done,” said its Deputy Minister Michael Tiang Ming Tee today at a blood donation programme organised by Grolite Group.
Tiang reasoned that only the State government knows what allocation, resources, as well as manpower are needed to resolve the medical issues in Sarawak.
“Taking Sibu for example, people here have been long expecting for the cardiologist satellite medical unit to be set up and this can only be achieved (if Sarawak has health autonomy), and to run this unit we need a lot of manpower.
“Hopefully we will get this public health autonomy from the unity government then we can provide this sort of services to Sibu Hospital which caters to the central region,” he said.
Touching on the programme, the Pelawan assemblyman noted the good response from the public.
“I am very surprised, pleasantly surprised because about 200 people came here to donate their blood… Not only that, Grolite also donated medical equipment to Sibu Hospital.
“We really appreciate this type of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme because as we know Sibu Hospital is not only for Sibu people but is taking care of the whole central region of Sarawak,” he said.
Meanwhile, Grolite’s business development manager, Sandra Song said that the company will continue to organise more CSR programmes that will benefit the community, especially in Sibu town.
“The blood donation programme today is something different from the ordinary one, as donors get to choose what medical equipment will be donated by Grolite to Sibu Hospital.
“We gave them a bottle cap for them to vote with on which medical equipment they want. The option that obtains the highest vote will be donated to Sibu Hospital and this will make them feel included and making a contribution to donating the equipment,” she said.
Also present were Grolite Group chairman Datuk Seri Song Tiing Seng and his wife Datin Seri Cheng Hung Chuo. — DayakDaily
