Sarawak faces shortfall of 2,000 medical doctors as ageing population grows - Dr Sim

SARAWAK is facing a critical shortage of medical professionals, with at least 2,000 additional doctors urgently needed to meet rising healthcare demands amid an ageing population, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said on Thursday.

Speaking during a visit to Shanghai’s Fudan University – one of China’s top two institutions for medical research – Dr Sim said the state must accelerate its efforts to train more Sarawakian doctors and reduce reliance on non-local personnel.

“We welcome the plans to set up Fudan University’s campus and research centre in Miri,” he said. “Fudan is among the world’s top 50 universities and its presence in Sarawak will help develop local medical talent.”

Dr Sim, who also serves as Sarawak’s Minister for Public Health, Local Government and Housing, noted the situation has worsened significantly since the start of the year, with more than 240 doctors and specialists having left for posts in Peninsular Malaysia since January.

“The federal Health Ministry offered 200 immediate postings to Sarawak,” he said. “Only 20 took up the offer – a figure that is far from sufficient to address our needs.”

He said the state currently has 4,000 government doctors and 659 in the private sector, with the majority being non-Sarawakians. Patients who can no longer wait for long queues at public hospitals are being forced to seek expensive treatment from private facilities.

“This is a problem across both rural and urban areas. The growing healthcare burden demands that we train and retain more Sarawakians in the sector,” he said.

In a related matter, in Kota Kinabalu, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said a proposal to exempt doctors serving in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak from the existing freeze on cost-of-living allowances would be brought to Cabinet.

“This issue was raised during the Joint Action Committee Meeting on Sabah Health Development during my visit to the state,” he said. “We are giving this matter very serious consideration.”

Responding to Sabah Health Exco Datuk James Ratib’s appeal to unfreeze the allowance, Dr Dzulkefly assured reporters of forthcoming developments, including a positive reception from the Ministry of Health in Putrajaya.

“There was a thorough presentation of plans and recommendations. We’re also looking ahead to nearly RM4 billion in funding by 2030 for an effective catch-up programme, particularly for service improvements in 24 Sabah hospitals,” he added.

James expressed hope that the federal government would accept the proposal, which he said offers “new hope” for healthcare personnel in underserved regions.

“At the very least, the minister’s commitment to raise the matter in Cabinet gives us encouragement,” he said. - June 12, 2025