KUCHING: The State Health Department said it was short of 116 medical assistants (MAs) throughoutSarawak, and not “about 200” as reported earlier.
Its press statement also said Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) is short of four MAs.
Last week several newspapers quoted SGH head of medical assistant division, Edward Thomas as saying the MA shortage throughout Sarawak is “about 200” so SGH was looking forward to having more of them graduate.
MAs use knowledge and skills in rendering curative, promotional, preventive and rehabilitative service under the supervision of a medical doctor.
They are a major force in pre-hospital care and ambulance service as they are the first medic to be at the scene of an accident, apart from screening patients and prescribing them certain classes of medication. They also treat minor ailments and conduct minor surgeries.