From Scotland to Sabah: Getting healthcare to remote areas

Villagers from flood-hit Nabawan being airlifted to Sabah's interior Keningau district hospital in May 2022. Trauma surgeon Dr Andrew Kent believes Malaysia should refocus efforts to develop its previous 'flying doctor' services. — Filepic/The Star

IT may come as a surprise to many but the rural regions of northern Scotland and the interior of Sabah have something in common. They are connected not only by the challenges of getting healthcare services to difficult-to-access areas but, recently, also by the experiences of one man: Prof Dr Andrew Kent, deputy chairman of the Faculty of Remote, Rural and Humanitarian Healthcare, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.

In September 2022, Dr Kent became the second recipient of the Tuanku Muhriz Traveling Fellowship in Rural Surgery from the Royal College, giving him the opportunity to experience firsthand how Malaysia’s healthcare system operates in rural areas.