KOTA KINABALU: The issue of manpower and other aspects of healthcare in Sabah must continue to be given attention and enhanced from time to time, state Women, Health and Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Majungki said.
Julita noted that the recent manpower problems faced by the Lahad Datu Hospital must be given priority so that services and daily operations at the facility can go on smoothly.
"What is important at this point of time is to ensure minimal disruption to the services of the Lahad Datu Hospital, more so in terms of critical and emergency treatment and care," Julita said when contacted on Saturday (June 6).
She explained that the Sabah Health Department has put up immediate measures to address the matter, adding she understood public concerns over the issue.
Julita said matters of manpower and other aspects of the health system in Sabah must be looked at holistically.
She added that it does not only involve placements of officials but also the need to maintain an experienced workforce on the field.
This workforce retention is vital for facilities with high levels of pressure and services such as hospitals, she said.
"The state government will continue working with the federal and state health ministries to ensure that healthcare services in Sabah, especially on the east coast, will consistently be given attention and enhanced," Julita added.
Recently, the Lahad Datu Hospital highlighted its manpower problems beginning in June as five of its staff would no longer serve the facility.
The staff changes are due to various reasons, including personnel being transferred away and others furthering their studies.
Drastic mitigations have been put in place starting June 1, whereby elective surgeries will be reduced from two rooms to one.
A temporary suspension of the anaesthesia and pre-anaesthesia assessment for outside surgeries has also been implemented.
Starting June 8, only semi-elective surgeries are to be performed to focus on emergency cases, and ICU beds will be reduced from six to three.
The Sabah Health Department had earlier on Saturday responded by assuring that proactive measures were in place.
The department stated that additional manpower is scheduled to be sent to the facility by July.
