“Health issues are becoming more prevalent in Sarawak, including in rural area.”
BINTULU: The Federal Government, through the Health Ministry, has outlined plans to significantly increase the number of medical assistants in Sarawak to meet the state’s escalating healthcare demands.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni stated that healthcare needs in Sarawak have surged, with communities experiencing a rise in health issues affecting the young, adults, and the elderly alike.
“Health issues are becoming more prevalent in Sarawak, including in rural area.
“There is an increase in cases of communicable and non-communicable diseases, alongside mental health concerns and a growing elderly population,” the Minister stated during a Sarawak Medical Assistant Day gathering here today.
She emphasised that medical assistants are vital as they serve as the essential link between doctors and grassroots communities. To address this, the Ministry is planning new training modules to equip medical assistants with advanced technology and specialist skills.
The push for more medical personnel comes as Sarawak faces significant demographic challenges. Recent reports indicate the state has the lowest population growth in Malaysia and the highest proportion of elderly citizens.
State Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah expressed grave concern over these trends.
Speaking at a symposium in Kuching, she revealed that Sarawak’s fertility rate has plummeted from an average of 2.76 babies per couple in 2001 to just 1.69 in 2023.
“The population growth of Sarawak is the slowest among all states in Malaysia, with the number of babies born annually declining sharply,” Fatimah said.
She added that the number of annual births has halved from 40,000 to approximately 20,000.
Currently, Sarawakians aged 60 and above make up 15 per cent of the state’s population. By 2028, this figure is expected to double.
“The drop in fertility rates and a decline in marriages, coupled with a surging ageing population, will have significant health and socio-economic implications for Sarawak in the years ahead,” Fatimah stressed.
To mitigate these issues, the Ministry is conducting a state-wide programme and liaising with academic institutions—including Swinburne University, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Curtin University—to conduct a comprehensive census.
The goal is to develop detailed planning for elderly care and study successful measures taken by developed nations to support an ageing society.
Sarawak currently has a population of approximately three million people, with one million residing in vast rural districts.
