Sarawak govt out to provide palliative care services statewide

SIBU: The Sarawak government aims to expand its palliative care services across the region, said Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

The Deputy Premier said palliative care in Sarawak is currently concentrated in urban areas and has not been fully integrated into mainstream healthcare services.

“There is no doubt that we need to further develop our palliative care services to meet the demands by 2030, as Sarawak has the highest need for palliative care in Malaysia.

“Sarawak’s vast distances pose a challenge; travelling to places like Sibu and Kuching can be lengthy, despite our good road infrastructure. The challenges involve not only cost but also travel time.

“This is why the Sarawak government is committed to developing palliative care services throughout the state, ensuring that no one is left behind. Inclusivity is a key part of our post-COVID development strategy (PCDS). We want to include everyone,” he said.

He said this in his speech when officiating at the opening ceremony of the 15th Malaysia Hospice Council Congress 2024 at a renowned hotel here last night (July 25).

Dr Sim, who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said palliative care in the country was established in 1995, while Sarawak began its palliative care efforts even later, in 2016, at the oncology department at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).

“I am pleased that many NGOs are helping us fill the gaps, especially in domiciliary palliative care, which is now available in 34 health clinics as of 2023.

“There is ongoing collaboration between Sarawak and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which includes the online ASCO Palliative Care e-Course launched in 2021, along with other joint projects. This collaboration has expanded benefits not only to participants in Sarawak but also throughout Malaysia,” he said.

He also announced a significant development this year: a public-private partnership with Kuching Life Care, a 58-bed inpatient hospice working in collaboration with the Palliative Care Unit of SGH.

“This initiative will reduce the burden on the inpatient Palliative Care Unit at SGH by expanding services to the Kuching Life Care hospice in Batu Kawa, offering care at no cost to patients,” he added.

Despite the challenges, Dr Sim stressed that the government would do its utmost to collaborate with the community, ASCO, and the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) to achieve its goal.

“If we work together, we can achieve great things. Never underestimate what we can accomplish when we unite and play our respective roles.

“The future of palliative care in Sarawak, through the development of the Sarawak Task Force Palliative Care Committee, promises to be transformative,” he said.