Deputy Premier to raise Sarawak healthcare manpower issue at MTPMA63 meeting next week

KUCHING (Feb 21): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian will raise several “technical issues” at the Technical Committee under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) next week, highlighting challenges unique to Sarawak that national policies often overlook.

The Sarawak Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister pointed out that some nationwide policies fail to account for the state’s manpower constraints.

“But they forget that they do not provide us with the manpower, especially certain categories of personnel that we simply do not have here.

“How are these policies supposed to be extended to Sarawak?” he told reporters at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Stutong Ramadan Bazaar here after giving out free bubur lambuk to shoppers.

Also present were Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng and deputy mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili.

Dr Sim cited rural healthcare as an example, noting that medical assistants in Sarawak often help administer anaesthesia at rural clinics.

“In Peninsular Malaysia, there are already many doctors, so they do not need medical assistants to do this.

“But imagine if only doctors are allowed to administer anaesthesia, and yet no doctors are sent over here,” he said.

He also highlighted the shortage of medical staff in the state, which has increased the workload for healthcare personnel.

He noted that the Sarawak General Hospital has 1,000 beds but only 4,500 staff, but a similar hospital in Peninsular Malaysia, with the same number of beds, has 5,500 staff.

“Why is this the case? It’s because over the years, the government has not increased the sanctioned posts for Sarawak.

“As a result, our doctors, nurses and paramedics have to work extra hard,” he said.

Dr Sim said the Technical Committee meetings follow a three-tier process.

The next meeting will be with the Ministry of Health, followed by a session on March 5 with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, and a final meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with the date yet to be fixed.

He added that he is currently awaiting confirmation from Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad for next week’s proposed meeting.