KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry hopes to address issues on Sabah’s health autonomy, redundancy of authority, appointment of staff and facilities in ongoing discussions relating to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic).
The Health Minister said these are within the topics of interest under the MA63 claims for Sabah.
He said the ministry is working with the state Health Department to realise plans, including the commencement of the Sabah Heart Centre, refurbishment of hospitals, addressing manpower concerns and improving the overall state healthcare system.
“Our discussions are having positive results and we are now focusing on efforts to implement these plans,” Dzulkefly said at the Sabah health development joint action committee meeting.
He said under the 13th Malaysia Plan, high-impact projects worth RM1.57bil had been approved for healthcare in Sabah, comprising 46 ongoing ones and seven new projects.
Among them is the RM125mil Sabah Heart Centre, which is expected to start work by the end of 2027.
Other projects include a RM81.95mil Type 5 health clinic to be built in Sapulut, Nabawan, to serve rural folk, he said.
On manpower shortage in the state, the minister said a total of 607 new postings, including 77 specialists and 203 medical officials across various units, had been filled as of Aug 1.
On another matter, Dzulkefly defended the ministry’s decision to transfer a former hospital director in Sabah to another department, following probes on sexual harassment allegations.
He said the decision to transfer the person was necessary to ensure an investigation could go on without interference.
Dzulkefly was commenting on allegations involving a hospital director who was accused of sexually harassing a female staff member last year.
On Sunday, lawyer Joan Goh, who represented the former director, submitted a formal representation to the ministry to challenge the transfer, requesting an explanation of the reasons and evidence relied upon as basis for the decision.
