KUCHING, 14 Dec: Sarawak looks forward to the return of health autonomy or decentralisation to the state through the Health White Paper.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian stressed the importance of health autonomy as the state government wants to play its role for its people by ensuring accessibility and equity in the state.
“Sarawak in 2018 and in 2022 is not the same. In 2018, the state government had only RM6 billion in revenue, and this year we have a total of RM11 billion. That was just a matter of five years.
“This is due to our political leadership is very entrepreneurial. We strive to be politically independent and financially independent,” he said when officiating at the 2022 Academy for Silent Mentor (AFSM) Tripartite Conference on Healthcare Challenges in the 21st Century held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
He further stressed that with financial independence, the state government is able to play its role in Sarawak’s healthcare.
“We can afford it, therefore. Because of this, we are also discussing infrastructure by offering the MoH (Ministry of Health) RM1 billion to launch our cancer hospital.
“We are also discussing talent development. All of these are carrying out our part for the Sarawakian people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sim stated that access to surgery and the education of future surgeons are issues that are particularly important to him in the healthcare sector.
He opined that it is crucial to mentor people in values and leadership as well as develop their skills and knowledge.
“Leadership is a skill that must be learned, it is not innate.
“Since politics permeate both the family and the workplace, mentoring them in politics is a necessary part of this,” he added.
Dr Sim pointed out that following the recent parliamentary election, Malaysia is more polarised and divided than ever before, and he predicts that the situation will only get worse.
However, he said that those in the healthcare industry collaborate closely without being politicised.
“I am relieved that we have stopped taking part in the tumult of pointless and unneeded political debates from a professional and scientific standpoint.
“From a professional standpoint, I can see how everyone is working together to resolve all the open problems, and we are progressing. I want to congratulate and thank the organisers for creating an example of cooperation and progress on important issues,” he said.
The three-day 2022 AFSM Tripartite Conference is jointly organised by the AFSM, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), MoH, the College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (CSAMM), the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (MATCVS), and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
Among those present were Health director-general Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, AFSM chairman, and founding director Dr Chin Kin Fah, RCSEd past vice president Dr Pala Rajesh, CSAMM president Dr Lim Kean Ghee, and 2022 AFSM Tripartite Conference president Dr John Chan. – TVS
