Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans in the State can expect to enjoy the free health check-up service, as announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor recently, from April or May.
State Minister of Community Development and People’s Wellbeing, Datuk James Ratib, said the initiative falls under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) agenda to be implemented first in 10 districts in the East Coast.
He said the 10 would be pilot districts for the initiative before being expanded to other districts.
“A total of 10 mobile laboratory 4WD vans will be prepared including medical officers and doctors for this noble effort which also involves the collaboration of the Sabah State Health Department (JKNS).
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James, who is also State Health Exco, said this after delivering his address to the directors and civil servants of various departments and agencies under his Ministry, here, recently.
Earlier, James also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the event between the Ministry represented by its Permanent Secretary, Maria Chong, and her Deputy Permanent Secretary Walter Kenson, while Borneo Sinarmas was represented by its Chief Operating Officer, Dr Chee Sian and Director Ahmad Fauzi bin Mohd.
The MoU involved collaboration of the Ministry with Borneo Sinarmas in providing the free health check-ups for all Sabahans.
James said the free health service mechanism includes providing health check-ups by taking blood samples to detect early check-ups for cancer and other serious diseases so that proper medical action can be rendered to the individuals.
“If a patient needs follow-up treatment for his or her serious illness, the patient will be referred to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment.
“At the same time, this mobile laboratory van also provides medicines for patients after identifying their health problems,” he said.
For areas that can only be traversed by river or sea, he said there is a plan to use ambulance boat service belonging to JKNS, as such boat was used to provide health and medical services to the communities in Banggi Island, Kudat.
At the same time, he said, the Ministry also plans to add existing vehicles, especially boats or mobile laboratory boats, in the future so that the service is more extensive.
On another issue, James requested to halt the practice of posting West Malaysians to fill up high-grade positions in Federal ministries in Sabah.
“If the officer had to return for duty in the peninsula, just look for the same grade scale of position there, and don’t bring the same grade which he or she has filled for this position in Sabah to the peninsula.
“If the grade scale of this position is brought back to the peninsula, then there will be no vacancy for such grade in Sabah, causing less of the said grade scale (in the State).
“When this situation happens, it will close the chance for our citizens to get the same grade in the future,’ he said.
James also asked the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) to stop the practice of transferring its citizens, especially Sabahans, to work in other states.
On the other hand, James called on the Ministry of Health (MOH) to stop a practice of transferring, especially the permanent nurses in Sabah, to work in other states in the country.
He said these nurses should remain on duty in Sabah and if necessary to be transferred, then let it be done within the State as long as they are close to their families.
He cited a situation of a Sabahan nurse being transferred to Sarawak – the nurse in question suffered serious mental health issues following the isolation and he was asked to intervene to resolve the problem.
“Stop transferring Sabah’s nurses to the peninsula or Sarawak because Sabah still lacks nurses. If they want to transfer them, do it only around the State.
“A reason that there are no vacancies for nurses in Sabah until they have to be transferred out of State, it doesn’t make sense… because there are still many other positions in Sabah where they can be placed,” he said.
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