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SARAWAK is dependent on doctors from outside this state as there are not enough trained locals in the health and medical services sectors.
This situation is prevalent in all urban and rural districts in the state, involving both government hospitals and clinics as well as private ones, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
"In Sarawak, based on the latest statistics, there are 4,000 doctors serving in government hospitals and clinics and 659 in private hospitals and clinics.
"Of these, the majority of them are non-Sarawakians and are here to fill the needs of the local health and medical sectors throughout Sarawak.
"This is the case in government hospitals and clinics under the Ministry of Health and those run by the private sector.
"As we in Sarawak face increasing needs year after year, we must find a way to train more Sarawakians to become doctors," he said when speaking at a health event in Kuching.
Dr Sim is also the State Minister for Housing, Local Government and Public Health.
He said his ministry is trying to find ways to get more Sarawakians to go for medical courses.
On Dec 29, it was reported that Sarawak is drawing up a master plan to manage its autonomy and control of health matters that had been granted by the Federal Government under the Malaysia Agreement negotiations.
Dr Sim had then said the masterplan would spell out what Sarawak needs to do to exercise this autonomous control over its health and medical facilities. - January 5, 2025