Subramaniam: Better remuneration to be proposed for doctors serving in Sarawak

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SRI AMAN: The Health Ministry will discuss with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to propose more attractive remuneration and incentives for doctors and specialists who are being posted in hospitals and government clinics in Sarawak.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the biggest challenge faced by the Sarawak health services is the shortage of doctors and specialists.

“Specialist doctors from Peninsular Malaysia are needed to serve in Sarawak as not many Sarawakian doctors are specialists.

“However, not many doctors want to serve in Sarawak especially in hospitals and clinics in the rural areas, therefore, an attractive remuneration should be offered,” he said.

Apart from remuneration, the ministry would suggest to the PSC to implement better incentives, he said in his speech after the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Sri Aman Hospital by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, here, yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said he understood the difficulties and risk undergone by patients such as a three-hour journey from Sri Aman to Kuching to seek treatment from specialists there.

On Thursday, Subramaniam travelled to the Sri Aman Hospital from Kuching by road.

He said the new RM200 million Sri Aman Hospital, which was expected to be completed by
2018, would resolve all difficulties faced by patients from Sri Aman in seeking specialist treatment.

The hospital would be equipped with 108 beds and various specialist treatment facilities, Subramaniam said. — Bernama