By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Sept 14: Sarawak will be ramping up its healthcare vision with a focus on expanding accessibility to end-of-life care as projections indicate that at least 30,000 individuals will require palliative services by 2030.
Following Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian’s appearance at the Northbank Business Exchange launching ceremony at Ibraco Gallery today, he highlighted the critical need for compassionate, community-centric medical infrastructure.
“By 2030, we expect 30,000 total patients needing this kind of (palliative) care. People who go there are only during their last few days,” he said when met by reporters.
Operating on a completely free-of-charge basis, the Hospice and Palliative Care Centre (HPCC) represents a pioneering model in Malaysia through its unique public-private partnership.
The facility is owned by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Kuching Life Care Society, with Ministry of Health (MOH) government hospital services operating entirely within its premises.
“On April 4, they (HPCC) only had nurses to operate eight beds. But now, they open 16 beds,” added Dr Sim.
However, facility growth has outpaced workforce expansion, highlighting an ongoing strain on manpower.
Addressing the realities of end-of-life care, Dr Sim stressed that comfort and dignity during a patient’s final days remain paramount, particularly because many families cannot afford home-based hospice care.
“We want Sarawak to be different. No one else is doing it, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it (either),” said Dr Sim.
He noted that palliative care is also set to become a component of the upcoming Sarawak Cancer Centre, which is currently targeted to be up and running by 2032.
The discussion on healthcare standards also turned to international milestones following the Sarawak Heart Centre securing the 52nd spot in the cardiology category in Newsweek’s prestigious rankings for its fourth consecutive year.
When reporters asked how the institution consistently maintains its position within the top 100 in the Asia-Pacific region, Dr Sim attributed the ongoing success entirely to its people, core values, and human factors rather than mere chance.
“It’s the people that kept them (Sarawak Heart Centre) at the top (100). It’s the human; the values that we created. That’s why we stay there (at the top 100),” he said.
Acknowledging that specialised medical and healthcare roles involve intense pressure and difficult daily duties, Dr Sim noted that the Sarawak government continues to advocate aggressively for fair compensation and better remuneration packages to retain local talent, pointing to State-backed incentives such as two-month bonuses and three-month allowances as part of these efforts. – DayakDaily
