KUCHING, Sept 30: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak Women lauds the Sarawak government’s willingness to discuss with Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on the proposed establishment of a Cancer Centre in Sarawak.
The Women’s wing asserted that the establishment of a cancer centre in Sarawak will benefit Sarawakians while providing quality and cheaper treatment for cancer patients in the State.
“Every resident of the State regardless of suburban or inland should not be left out of access to health facilities which is generally a necessity in the community.
“Wanita Keadilan Sarawak often receives complaints from residents living in rural areas, especially in Lawas, who have to spend hundreds of ringgit just for transportation to get therapy services in Sabah.
“What is sad is that some lost (their lives) due to various obstacles in terms of distance and costs that had to be borne to get treatment,” it said.
Sarawak PKR Women added that some cancer patients from Lawas District were frequently sent to Likas Hospital in Sabah which had better facilities for treatment prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the cancer patients encountered various obstacles and had to comply with the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) for cross border travel between Sarawak and Sabah for follow-up treatment.
Citing an example, it noted a cancer patient had to bear the cost of travelling and had to undergo quarantine at a hotel for two weeks before being allowed to return home.
Hence, Sarawak PKR Women hoped that healthcare services in Malaysia can be transformed to be more efficient while continuing to be fair and of high standards. — DayakDaily
