By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, March 7: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will utilise 35 of the 58 beds at the upcoming Kuching Life Care hospice, making it the first privately built hospice in Malaysia to serve public healthcare needs.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak government and Hospis Malaysia, called it a historic milestone for the State’s healthcare system.
“This is the first time a privately built facility will be made accessible for public use in Malaysia. Sarawak can now serve as a role model for the rest of the country. It’s a drastic change from just a few years ago, when palliative care barely existed,” he said, speaking at the signing ceremony held at Sarawak Club, Jalan Taman Budaya, yesterday (March 6).
Dr Sim said the Kuching Life Care facility will mark a major milestone for palliative care in Malaysia, reflecting years of progress driven by collaboration between hospitals, government agencies, and community organisations.
“Palliative care workers are not just heroes; they are brave individuals who do work that many others may not be willing to do,” he said.
He added that the hallmark of quality palliative care is not simply being present, but doing things right.
“When all partners in the palliative care ecosystem work well together, patients and families will truly feel the dignity and compassion of the care provided,” he said.
The collaboration with Hospis Malaysia aims to strengthen training, professional expertise, and service delivery, ensuring that Sarawak’s palliative care continues to grow and set new standards nationally. — DayakDaily
