Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (right) visiting an exhibition booth at the International Medical Tourism Conference in Kuching.
KUCHING: Sarawak's budget will remain focused on development, particularly in rural areas, says Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The Deputy Premier said this was in keeping with the theme of previous state budgets.
"I'm very sure the Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) will continue what we are doing, which is a development- and rural-leaning budget.
"We want the rural areas to catch up with urban areas," he told reporters after opening the International Medical Tourism Conference here on Tuesday (Nov 11).
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At the same time, he added, there was a need to address issues like flash floods in urban areas.
Dr Sim, who is also state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, said his ministry looked forward to financial assistance for local councils in the budget.
"We always need help from the state government because local council (assessment) rates have not been increased since the 1970s," he said.
As for the health sector, he said, Sarawak was still short of doctors and nurses, but this was still under the Federal Government, pending the outcome of ongoing negotiations on health autonomy for Sarawak.
"The immediate concern in putting in money for health is to employ doctors and nurses," he noted.
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The Sarawak Legislative Assembly's budget session is scheduled for Nov 24 to Dec 3.
Abang Johari, who is also state Finance and New Economy Minister, is expected to table the budget on the first day.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim said Sarawak was well-positioned to become an international medical tourism hub with the availability of high-quality, affordable healthcare facilities and personnel.
He said three new private hospitals were being developed in Kuching, while another private hospital would expand its current capacity.
"If you go to most of our private hospitals, 40%-50% of the patients are not Sarawakian.
"It means that people have confidence in our high standards, not just the hospitals and equipment, but most importantly the people – the doctors, nurses, paramedics and so on," he said.
Dr Sim added that Sarawak offered not only healthcare but ecotourism, which would attract more visitors in the medical tourism sector.
"Patients who come here will have a nice place where they can recover," he said.
