Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has identified five key areas of authority to enhance its autonomy in healthcare, with hopes of reaching an agreement with the Federal Government by June, says Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
“These are policy matters, and we have given them a timeline. We hope to reach some understanding on the issues discussed,” he said.
Earlier, he attended a Joint Action Committee on Sabah Health Development under MA63 Meeting at Pacific Sutera Hotel here. The meeting was also attended by Federal Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zulkefly Ahmad.
Dr Joachim, who is also Acting PBS President, reiterated Sabah’s push for greater control over its health administration, citing the State’s high incidence of infectious diseases and the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure.
“Sabah needs to have more control over key healthcare decisions, including vaccination programmes and hospital development,” he said.
“If you look at the number of infectious diseases in Malaysia, Sabah still tops the list. We want matters like vaccination to be under Sabah’s control and included in both the Federal and State list,” he added.
Dr Joachim, who is also State Local Government and Housing Minister, highlighted Sabah’s lagging hospital facilities and healthcare services.
“We are still too far behind. The Federal Minister acknowledged these concerns, but there are many technical and legal issues to address,” he said.
He also stressed the severe shortage of medical professionals in the State, including doctors, nurses and even ambulance drivers.
“It’s not easy because so many medical personnel are under the authority of the Health Ministry. So, getting staffing here is a challenge.” The push for autonomy is also driven by logistical challenges.
Dr Joachim pointed out complications in cases where deceased individuals need to be transported between Sabah and other regions.
“If someone dies in Sabah, we have to send them to KL. If they die in KL or abroad, the State cannot simply bring them back without Federal permission. These are some of the things we want to address,” he explained.
He said the State Government remains committed to improving healthcare governance and ensuring better access to medical services for the people. Negotiations with the Federal Government are expected to continue in the coming months.
