Let Sabah have autonomy to manage health service – Salleh
KOTA BELUD: Sabah needs to be given autonomy as demanded by Sarawak to manage the health service sector in the state.
Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Mohd Said said this after examining the data presented by the Kota Belud Hospital during his visit on Friday.
According to the Usukan State Assemblyman, the issue of the lack of specialists and medical officers in the state as happened at Kota Belud Hospital can be dealt with more effectively if the state government has the relevant jurisdiction.
“Kota Belud needs to have a specialist doctor which we don’t have now, and we ask the government to consider it.
“Secondly, we also feel the need for more medical officers especially with the current 110,000 Kota Belud residents, and many more patients from outside the district.
“If possible, we need at least 30 medical officers in Kota Belud, whereas at the moment we only have about 24”, said Salleh in a statement on Friday.
Salleh also urged that all plans related to infrastructure and facilities such as ambulances can be expedited by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) based on the geographical factors of the district as a transit for patients from the northern part of Sabah.
“Many things need to be rushed like an ambulance. The same goes for some plans by the hospital and the MoH regarding the infrastructure in the Kota Belud Hospital area.
“I hope the MoH can take note, and this matter can be implemented quickly,” he added.
Earlier, Salleh visited Kota Belud Hospital following a viral post on Facebook regarding the complaint of a medical officer who claimed to have been forced to work for 33 days without leave due to the lack of staff.