Sarawak plans to recruit 11,000 healthcare workers as demand surges in major hospitals, with focus on rural access and dental services expansion.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is looking to urgently recruit up to 11,000 healthcare and medical personnel.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said a large number of doctors, medical assistants, nurses and other staff are needed for major hospitals across the state, including those in Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and other key urban centres.
“There are shortages of as many as 11,000 positions for healthcare and medical personnel in major hospitals in Sarawak.
“We need to find ways to fill these vacancies.
“We hope to be able to bring them in by using our recruitment autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said in a message delivered at the Borneo Dental Congress in Kuching last night.
His speech was delivered by State Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Johari added that Sarawak also needs to expand its oral healthcare outreach, noting that residents in rural districts require greater access to dental services each year.
“We are setting up more mobile dental teams to serve rural areas using mobile dental buses.
“Children are among those who are in increasing need of dental healthcare,” he said.
He pointed out that oral healthcare services are a key area requiring greater focus in the coming years.
The congress has drawn attendance from oral healthcare experts from across the state and neighbouring regions in Borneo to discuss the latest issues in the dental care sector.
