PETALING JAYA: A newly operational Sarawak-level medical committee marks a key step towards addressing the state’s healthcare shortage and advancing its autonomy in the sector.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Sarawak Medical Committee under the Malaysia Medical Council (MMC), now operational, marks a small step but an important start towards health autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In a Facebook post Saturday (March 21), he said the move comes amid a worsening shortage of doctors in the state.
“Sarawak is short of 2,000 doctors and this will continue to get worse unless we start taking steps to find solutions ourselves,” he said.
Sim also pointed to figures shared by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in Parliament, noting that out of 5,000 available housemanship positions nationwide, only 529 medical graduates were accepted.
“How many do you think Sarawak will get?” he said.
He stressed that Sarawak’s push for greater control over its healthcare system was not unprecedented, noting that the state had its own Medical Registration Ordinance in place from 1948, which remained in force even after the formation of Malaysia until 1971.
“What Sarawak is asking is not more than what Sarawak had before forming Malaysia,” he said.
Sim said Sarawak is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to tackle the healthcare crisis, including plans to establish a Fudan University medical school campus in Miri.
He noted that a significant number of Malaysian medical graduates trained overseas do not return, citing estimates that about 50% of Monash University Malaysia graduates move to Australia, while 90% of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia graduates relocate to the United Kingdom.
He added that Sarawak is also increasing its own pipeline of doctors by doubling state-sponsored medical students at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) from 40 to 80 annually, while exploring postgraduate training initiatives within the state.
Sim said efforts are also underway to leverage emerging technologies, including trials involving artificial intelligence-driven medical solutions under collaboration with Fudan University.
He added that discussions on Sarawak’s health autonomy are ongoing with the Federal Government, including exploring models similar to federal-state arrangements such as in Australia.
Among other measures, Sim said Sarawak is considering offering permanent residency to doctors who serve in the state for a certain number of years, allowing their children to benefit from state education initiatives, as well as promoting Sarawak’s lifestyle as part of efforts to attract and retain talent.
Sim also expressed appreciation to Sarawak Medical Committee members for their role in establishing and operationalising the committee.
