Sarawak govt continues securing State’s health autonomy despite complexities

Dr Sim (seventh left) officiating at the ‘Batu Kitang 2024 Chinese New Year Carnival’ last night (Jan 29, 2024) at the Neon Trend Market at Lee Ling Heights on Jalan Penrissen in Kuching.

By Ashley Sim

KUCHING, Jan 30: Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian emphasises the Sarawak government’s commitment to securing the State’s health autonomy, despite the complexity of the matter due to various laws involved.

Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, commended second-time Federal health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad for his responsiveness, which is a good start on the State’s health autonomy.

“Health autonomy is a complex issue that involves various laws. The recent committee meeting, co-chaired by the Minister of Health and myself, is a good start.

“Of course, we don’t expect some of the laws to change overnight, but we are grateful that several of them have been delegated to us.

“So we will continue to pursue the matter, some like the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS) which includes inspections on all health facilities. There’s no reason for Sarawak not being able to do that because it’s just a checklist,” he told reporters when met after officiating at the ‘Batu Kitang 2024 Chinese New Year Carnival’ last night (Jan 29) at the Neon Trend Market at Lee Ling Heights on Jalan Penrissen here.

In addition, he asserted that the existing Federal-centric health care system is not suitable for Sarawak.

“For example, Sarawak aspires to have its very own satellite heart centres in Sibu and Miri, but the Ministry of Health tells us in states like Malacca and Negeri Sembilan there are no heart centres,” he claimed.

Dr Sim further said the Health Ministry ought to recognise that Sarawak is very large and that it would be preferable for Sarawakians to have the aforementioned kind of heart centre close to several districts, so they won’t have to travel far to receive heart treatment.

Furthermore, the Deputy Premier emphasised that the working committee is diligently working on delegation of powers, as well as the Health ministry’s significant size and complexity, which exceeds even that of education.

“We want to do a good job because we do not want to simply take over and end up not being good at managing the autonomy,” he commented. — DayakDaily