• Health

    Sarawak needs 11,000 more healthcare staff as vacancies strain major hospitals

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    By Dayak Daily Team,Editor KB

    Copyright dayakdaily

    Sarawak needs 11,000 more healthcare staff as vacancies strain major hospitals

    By DayakDaily Team

    BINTULU, Sept 17: Sarawak is grappling with a severe shortage of healthcare personnel, with studies showing that more than 11,000 new positions are required to support operations at seven major hospitals across the State.

    In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian revealed that a special task force from the Ministry of Health (MOH), which conducted visits last July to hospitals including Bintulu Hospital, Sarawak General Hospital, Kapit Hospital, Sibu Hospital and the Sarawak Heart Centre, found the scale of vacancies to be deeply alarming.

    “For instance, Bintulu Hospital should ideally have 150 doctors, but only 80 are currently serving. This leaves 70 posts vacant, which inevitably adds to the workload of existing staff,” he said during a visit to Bintulu Hospital on Tuesday (Sept 16).

    Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said the issue has persisted since 2011 when the Sarawak Heart Centre expanded its bed capacity from 30 to 160 without any corresponding increase in the number of doctors and nurses.

    He added that MOH has acknowledged the problem following the task force’s assessment, and a coordinated effort involving MOH, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economy is now needed to secure allocations and new manpower.

    “One of the main reasons doctors are reluctant to serve in Sarawak is the lack of relocation support, particularly for contract officers, leaving many to remain in Peninsular Malaysia.

    “Therefore, Sarawak is seeking authority to recruit doctors directly at the State level, similar to the current arrangement for teacher recruitment. As long as recruitment remains under Kuala Lumpur’s control, these vacancies will remain unfilled,” he stressed.

    Dr Sim further highlighted that the workload of healthcare staff is compounded by sudden public holiday announcements, which disrupt clinic treatment schedules. Despite this, medical officers are not eligible for overtime claims or replacement leave.

    “Despite these challenges, I deeply appreciate the dedication of all healthcare personnel who continue to serve the people of Sarawak with unwavering commitment,” he said.

    Earlier, Dr Sim handed over food supplies to representatives of Bintulu Hospital staff before visiting the Emergency Ward and meeting with frontline workers.

    Also present were Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming, and political secretary to Premier of Sarawak Angellie Stephen Raja. — DayakDaily

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