KOTA KINABALU: The recent launch of the Suka Sama Suka Posting Swap platform is a clear advancement in staff welfare and system transparency, said the Sabah Medical Services Union.
Its president Ajulahin Japin said the announcement by the Health Ministry has been met with enthusiastic support from healthcare unions across the country.
He said the digital platform will allow healthcare workers under the same service scheme to mutually swap postings without the involvement of human resources departments.
It is hailed as a groundbreaking step towards a more flexible, transparent, and people-centric public healthcare system, he said in a statement.
“This is a clear advancement in staff welfare and system transparency. With this platform, nurses can now take greater control of their own career and placement choices,” said Ajulahin, who is also the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services chairman for Sabah.
He said the ability to view and match transfer requests transparently eliminates unnecessary bottlenecks and uncertainty.
He hopes that the platform will be expanded to other healthcare cadres soon, including medical assistants, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
In emphasising strong support for this new swap system, particularly its focus on mutual consent and specialisation compatibility, Ajulahin said this was a result of the ministry listening to ground feedback.
He said many nurses wish to be closer to family or seek placements aligned with personal and professional growth and this platform provides that opportunity responsibly and fairly.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad had earlier announced that the system - developed in-house by the ministry, would begin operations in October, starting with Phase 1 for nurses.
The platform allows healthcare professionals to log in, search for potential swap matches by facility, state, and job designation, and complete transfers digitally.
All swaps must be between officers of similar employment status and medical specialisation.
Under the new framework, both parties must report to their new placements simultaneously, and successful applicants must wait two years before submitting a new application.
Healthcare leaders have praised the Suka Sama Suka initiative as a reflection of the ministry’s commitment to modernising healthcare administration through digital transformation and staff Empowerment.
