Public Healthcare System in Sarawak Faces Critical Staffing Shortage

The public healthcare system in Sarawak is grappling with numerous significant challenges, the most pressing being a chronic shortage of manpower, especially doctors and specialists. Studies indicate that over 11,000 new positions are essential to support operations at the state’s major hospitals.

The exact statistics have been made publicly available and frequently highlighted by the Health Ministry (MoH) through various mass media outlets.

State Officials’ Campaign

State officials have been actively campaigning, urging federal authorities to grant more autonomy for local recruitment. This approach aims to hire healthcare workers tailored to local needs, thereby enhancing loyalty and retention among staff.

Unfortunately, there have been numerous shortcomings in the overall federal recruitment process.

Infrastructure and Emergency Challenges

In addition to the urgent personnel shortages, there are other critical issues. Infrastructure at current facilities requires urgent upgrades, as many urban hospitals and rural clinics are outdated and some are in a dilapidated state.

Most of these facilities need immediate attention for expansion or rebuilding to meet modern standards and accommodate a growing population.

A significant portion of the state’s population lives in remote areas, facing accessibility challenges, as many locations can only be reached by river or air. This situation complicates proper and emergency healthcare delivery for patients in these regions.

Funding Discrepancies

Time and again, state authorities have highlighted the issues of funding and resource disparities, as the state medical services operate with significantly lower allocations from the federal government compared to similarly-sized hospitals and health facilities in Peninsular Malaysia.

Such inadequacies have resulted in overcrowding and strained services.

It is not uncommon for emergency patients to be wait-listed for up to 24 hours after being triaged, and then waiting another 24 hours for a bed in the ward.

Healthcare Workforce Strain

From my personal observations during various admissions over recent years, all systems are operational but are functioning at optimal levels. However, it is clear that all departments are short-staffed, and nearly every medical personnel is overworked.

It is truly commendable that the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in Kuching has managed to cope with the overwhelming workload, continuously providing quality healthcare to both outpatients and those admitted over the years.

Kudos to all the specialists, doctors, nurses, and staff for their remarkable efforts!

Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases

Sarawak also faces a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart, and kidney failures, in addition to specific tropical and zoonotic diseases.

In Kuching, two specialist medical centres have been established to cater specifically to heart patients: the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan and the specialist centre adjacent to the SGH.

Both centres are currently operating beyond their maximum capacity, having exceeded their original patient expectations.

Future Developments

A third major specialist clinic for cancer patients is in the planning stages. The state government has also invested in new facilities including the Petra Jaya Hospital, the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Teaching Hospital, and the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre.

Earlier this year, the federal Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, reported that a total of 6,919 healthcare personnel under the MoH had resigned to join the private sector between 2020 and 2024.

This exodus included 2,141 nurses, exacerbating the nursing shortage in Malaysia, which is projected to reach almost 60% by the year 2030.

Calls for Action

In a media statement released on December 11, the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) issued a demand for a ‘moratorium on private hospitals for the next five years to save the public healthcare system.’ They argued that the rapid expansion of the private healthcare sector is depleting the workforce from public healthcare.

The PSM highlighted that this ‘poaching’ of healthcare professionals raises significant ethical concerns, negatively impacting the public healthcare system.

The statement further addressed the global health workforce crisis, as poorer countries, including Malaysia, continue to lose healthcare professionals to wealthier private sectors.

Impact of Medical Tourism

The PSM also criticized medical tourism, expressing concern about the acute shortage of specialists in public hospitals. They questioned the implications of further private hospital expansions aimed at catering to medical tourism.

The private health services sector is reportedly among the eighth fastest-growing service industries.

Staff numbers in the public sector grew by 12% from 98,973 in 2015 to 110,708 in 2022, while the private sector saw a 27% increase from 132,082 to 167,690 in the same period.

Conclusion and Urgent Action Needed

The statement from PSM emphasized the WHO General Assembly’s affirmation in May 2025, which recognized health access as a fundamental human right, essential for human dignity and well-being.

They urged policymakers to uphold the rights of the rakyat (people) to access high-quality healthcare by taking immediate action to impose a moratorium on private hospitals for the next five years, aiming to preserve the public healthcare service.

This may seem like a drastic measure at first glance, but it is crucial for addressing the current healthcare crisis in our public sector.

In my view, the most urgent issue for Sarawak is regaining full autonomy over our public medical services without further delays.

This will be a vital first step towards determining our own future in revamping our healthcare systems.

Let’s work towards a faster progression for Sarawak and achieve greater autonomy in its public healthcare service for a brighter and fairer future for all citizens.

‘Hidup Sarawak’!