KUCHING, Jan 12 — The Health Ministry (MOH) will look into the request made by the Sarawak Government to have administrative control over healthcare matters.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he has taken note of the numerous views and recommendations conveyed by Deputy Premier cum Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian pertaining to the request during their meeting today.
The healthcare matters include those related to infrastructure, administration, human resources, and staffing.
“We will definitely look into their request and this will be followed by the setting up of sub-committees that will further scrutinise those matters.
“In my opinion, the request is reasonable,” he told the press after visiting the Petra Jaya Hospital project site.
Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly also paid a courtesy call to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and said the Sarawak government has also requested for the construction of the Sarawak Cancer Centre to be expedited.
“We can no longer delay the construction of this Cancer Centre, which is very much needed (in Sarawak). I will inform the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) about all of Sarawak’s requests,” he said.
On January 7, Dr Sim said a meeting will be held this week between MOH and the Sarawak Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry to deliberate further on the state’s request for autonomy on health matters.
He said Sarawak wants health autonomy to be handed over to the state to ensure the health services reach the best level.
Dr Sim added that Sarawak needed more health facilities, like heart centres in Sibu and Miri, due to the massive size of the state and the time taken to travel within it.
— Bernama
