SANDAKAN: The lack of incentives for doctors serving in rural areas discourages them from working in challenging locations, prompting calls to review their allowances, says Datuk James Ratib.
The state Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister said that while basic salaries for doctors have been raised, their rural allowances have been "frozen," resulting in no significant difference in compensation between those working in rural and urban settings.
He said this after launching the Sandakan-level Kaamatan Festival at the Sandakan Community Hall on Saturday (May 17).
"I am urging the federal government, especially the Health Ministry, to reconsider this decision, as it affects the willingness of doctors to work in remote areas," he said.
James noted that the difficult working conditions, including limited facilities and housing challenges, add to the struggles faced by doctors in rural areas, making it harder to retain medical personnel in places like Sabah and Sarawak.
James, who also oversees community wellbeing, said that finding suitable housing for doctors in rural areas was a persistent issue, as many are reluctant to move due to the lack of proper accommodation.
Meanwhile, James said that Sabah has received 100 additional dialysis machines for government hospitals and health clinics across the state, including six for the Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan.
He said the new machines would complement the existing units and replace faulty ones.
James also thanked the Sabah government, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, for approving the funding for these machines.
He added that the Sandakan Hospital would be upgraded to a state-level facility, with an estimated RM400mil allocated for the project under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
"The preliminary work, costing around RM400,000, is already underway, and the project has received federal approval in principle. We hope this upgrade will proceed quickly once the costing is finalised," he said.
