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KUCHING, Aug 6: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has emphasised the need to prioritise the production of more doctors among the people of Sarawak so that they will be able to serve in their own State.
According to Bernama, Fadillah stated that one of the difficulties in doctor placements is getting doctors to work in rural areas of the State because they are not willing to be located far from towns or city centres where they do not have access to modern facilities.
“When offers (permanent positions) are opened, most choose to go to the peninsula or Sabah,” he said, as quoted by the national daily.
In a Facebook post dated Aug 4, the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, advocated that permanent posts for doctors in Sarawak be offered to those already serving in the State or to Sarawakians still waiting for an offer.
In his latest rebuke of doctors who have refused contract positions in Sarawak, Dr Sim lamented that even after 60 years of Malaysia’s formation, some people still did not understand the situation in Sarawak and Sabah.
The Deputy Premier also mentioned that he has been in touch with the director-general of the Health Ministry, Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, on the issue of 200 doctors refusing to serve in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni on Aug 4 also reported that 50 medical doctors from Peninsular Malaysia had rejected the offer for permanent employment in Sarawak.
Lukanisman said the figure was derived from 619 doctors who have been offered permanent placements at various clinics in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
