THE Sabah minister overseeing health matters, Datuk James Ratib, has called on the federal Health Ministry to urgently fill 210 doctor vacancies across the state.
Ratib, who is Sabah community development and people’s well-being minister, noted the importance of effective healthcare services, particularly in the rural areas where more doctors are badly needed.
“In Beluran alone, 26 vacancies for doctors are yet to be filled, including positions at the Sungai-Sungai Health Clinic.
“The clinic alone averages around 70 to 90 patients daily,” he said during his visit to Beluran, some 280km east from Kota Kinabalu.
Ratib also urged the federal ministry to fill the vacant health positions in all mother and child health clinics across the state.
Among the centres he visited were the Sungai-Sungai Health Clinic, Tangkarason Health Clinic in Paitan, Beluran Mother and Child Clinic, and Beluran Hospital.
The shortage of doctors in Sabah has been ongoing for many years, with the problem being particularly obvious since the implementation of the contract system in 2016.
Regarding the construction status of the Tangkarason Health Clinic, he said reconstruction work is progressing slowly, with approximately 30% completion as of July 27.
“Work has gone behind schedule. However, it is understood that the delay is due to rainy weather during the land works.
“I was also informed that the project is expected to be completed by October or November,” he said.
The wooden building of the Tangkarason Health Clinic in Beluran, as well as staff quarters were destroyed by fire on February 15.
The incident almost left nearly 3,000 residents in the area without access to healthcare services.
Local health services had to be relocated to the Kampung Tangkarason multipurpose hall as the state health department stated that reconstruction will take around six to nine months.
The total estimated cost for the reconstruction is around RM989,000. – July 30, 2024
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