Sarawak partners with Hospis Malaysia to expand palliative care services

KUCHING (March 7): Sarawak has sealed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hospis Malaysia to provide advanced palliative care services across the state.

This partnership reflects Sarawak’s dedication to providing compassionate, person-centred care for patients living with serious illnesses, said Hospis Malaysia in a statement on Friday (March 6).

Signing the MoU were deputy permanent secretary to the state Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Desmond Douglas Jerukan and Hospis Malaysia chief executive officer Dr Ednin Hamzah.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also state Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, witnessed the signing ceremony held at the Sarawak Club here.

The initiative comes as Sarawak prepares to meet rising healthcare needs driven by an ageing population and the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said Hospis Malaysia.

According to Dr Sim, Sarawak recognises the growing need for palliative care and remains committed to strengthening services statewide.

By 2030, he said projected national demand for palliative care is expected to exceed 200,000 cases, with Sarawak among the states facing the highest demand — estimated at around 35,000.

“Collaborating with Hospis Malaysia enables us to accelerate capacity-building, enhance professional expertise and ensure patients and families receive dignified, compassionate care,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Ednin said this partnership represents a meaningful step towards ensuring more Malaysians – particularly in Sarawak – can access and benefit from palliative care.

“By sharing expertise, strengthening training and supporting system development, we aim to build sustainable services that truly meet community needs.”

With over three decades of experience in evidence-guided community palliative care, education and advocacy, Hospis Malaysia said it currently supports about 1,500 patients and trains over 800 healthcare professionals and medical students each year.

“Nationwide, more than 100,000 Malaysians die each year in need of palliative care, yet currently only about 10 per cent of those in need receive such support — underscoring the urgency of expanding services and expertise,” it said.

The collaboration focuses on building local capacity, enhancing healthcare integration and improving access to care so that more patients and families across Sarawak can receive dignified, person-centred support closer to home, pointed out Hospis Malaysia.

The MoU maintains the autonomy of both parties, and is valid for five years, subject to review or renewal.

Hospis Malaysia is a charitable organisation dedicated to strengthening palliative care delivery in Malaysia.