KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 7 – Preference for Sabah-born medical officers to serve in the state is among the strategies and initiatives of the Ministry of Health (KKM) in bridging the gap in the ratio of doctors, especially in Sabah.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni said his side also places more medical officers, medical officers who have completed specialist studies and permanent and contract medical experts in the state.
“We will also implement a more innovative approach which is to combine specialist services within certain facilities through the cluster hospital concept and implement the concept visiting specialist for medical experts to deliver expert services to rural residents.
“KKM will also continue with various incentives to attract and retain health workers, especially in rural and inland areas, including Incentive Payment facilities according to Location and Level of Difficulty, Regional Pilgrimage Fees and Incentive Payments for the Placement of Physicians and Dentists in health facilities in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” he said.
He answered a question from Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud), regarding the strategy drawn up and the timeframe set to bridge the gap in the ratio of doctors in Sabah which is currently one doctor to 900 residents, compared to the national level of one doctor to 412 residents during the question and answer session in the House of Representatives today.
Answering Isnaraissah Munirah’s question about the bed ratio target for Sabah, Lukanisman said the bed ratio for every 1,000 residents in Sabah increased from 1.52 to 1.77 with an additional target of 1,941 beds in government hospitals to be completed by 2030.
“For projection Bed-to-Total Population Ratio (BPR) calculation also involves non-MOH government beds and private hospitals involving 40 beds in Ministry of Defense hospitals and beds under the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Hospital project which is expected to be completed by 2026.” – Named
