It's not just about money in Sarawak

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 3, 2026

Sarawak is implementing a comprehensive approach—including policy changes, direct employment of doctors, and improved facilities—to tackle its critical shortage of medical officers. These efforts aim to better support local and international graduates, enhance career development, and introduce innovations such as AI and telehealth to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

KUCHING — Sarawak is pursuing a multifaceted strategy to address the ongoing shortage of doctors in the state, emphasizing policy reforms, career development, and incentives to attract and retain medical officers, according to Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Dr Sim, who also serves as Sarawak’s Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, acknowledged concerns raised by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) regarding high absentee rates among medical officers assigned to permanent posts in Sabah and Sarawak. The MMA reported that some facilities did not receive any new medical officers on Sept. 28, with no-show rates as high as 70 to 76% in certain locations.

While monetary incentives and allowances, as suggested by the MMA, form part of the solution, Dr Sim argued that remuneration alone does not fully address the problem. “It’s not just a matter of money,” he said. He highlighted that medical officers in Sarawak often face disadvantages in accessing postgraduate training compared to their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia, underscoring the need for improved policy measures.

As of May 2026, Sarawak's healthcare system had approximately 5,738 vacancies across approved positions within the Ministry of Health, illustrating the depth of the shortfall. To mitigate this gap, Sarawak intends to propose to the federal ministry a measure that would allow the state to directly employ doctors, including international medical graduates from Malaysian universities who are generally restricted from undertaking housemanship within the country.

Dr Sim referenced discussions with Manipal University College Malaysia, which graduates around 400 medical students annually, including 100 international graduates currently unable to secure employment domestically. “Let Sarawak employ them. We are short of doctors; where are you going to find 100 doctors straightaway?” he queried.

The establishment of the Sarawak Medical Committee under the Malaysian Medical Council in 2024 is set to play a key role in overseeing the employment and integration of such graduates.

Further, Dr Sim indicated plans to engage with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to explore comprehensive solutions to the medical personnel shortage. These discussions will also consider innovative approaches, including AI-assisted healthcare, telehealth services, and the deployment of drones to improve medical service delivery in remote areas.

To enhance the appeal of medical postings in Sarawak, the state government has allocated over RM3 billion for the construction of new housing quarters for both state and federal civil servants. This initiative aims to address accommodation challenges faced by medical officers, thereby improving recruitment and retention in the state’s healthcare sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.