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By William Isau
SIBU, June 19: Sarawak is closer to gaining health care autonomy with the passing of the Health White Paper (HWP) in the Dewan Rakyat on June 15.
“It (Health White Paper) contains what Sarawak wants in our public health services. We applaud the passing of that white paper because, from the white paper, we will slowly attain our public health autonomy,” said Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang today.
Speaking to reporters after welcoming the Kembara Merdeka Convoy at Sibu Central Market, he said this as the federal government had also consulted Sarawak in the drafting and design of the HWP.
The Pelawan assemblyman said that with the passing of HWP, the federal government will decentralise its decision-making.
“They will let the State make certain decisions on our health (matters), fund allocation and on how to develop our health services in Sarawak.
“A report at the national level said that there is an oversupply of doctors. But for us Sarawak, the ratio of doctor to population is still underachieved. We still need many doctors and nurses in Sarawak.
“As you know Sarawak is a big State. We still need a lot of resources to be allocated to every corner of Sarawak to further improve our public health services,” he said.
Tiang also believed that Sarawak will be able to improve rural public health services.
“We can help clinics with dilapidated conditions. We can upgrade them, and we can improve them so that public health conditions in rural areas are also improved,” he said.
On June 25, a voice vote was called by Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Alice Lau after Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa finished her winding-up speech on the HWP.
Lau then announced the HWP had been passed through a clear majority voice in the august House. — DayakDaily
