SANDAKAN: The Sabah Government has been urged to publish a funded healthcare workforce action plan within 30 days to address staff shortages, improve welfare and develop more local doctors.
Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien said the state could not afford to delay action as patients faced difficulties accessing timely treatment and healthcare workers continued to work under pressure.
He stressed that while the plan should be published within 30 days, emergency assistance must begin immediately.
Thien acknowledged the Health Ministry’s recruitment of 750 permanent medical officers for Sabah and Sarawak, expected to report for duty in February 2027, as well as temporary staffing support for Ranau Hospital.
However, he urged the government to clarify how many recruits would be allocated to Sabah, where they would be posted and how shortages would be addressed before their arrival.
He proposed a three-month stabilisation plan involving a facility-by-facility staffing assessment, temporary deployments to critical hospitals and clinics, better work schedules and reduced administrative duties.
Over the next three to 12 months, he called for improved staff welfare through relocation assistance, hardship incentives, safe accommodation, timely allowance payments and better career development opportunities.
He said the measures must cover doctors, nurses, assistant medical officers and other frontline healthcare workers.
For the long term, Thien proposed expanding medical sponsorships through Biasiswa Kerajaan Negeri Sabah and Yayasan Sabah, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and other recognised institutions, to increase the number of Sabahan doctors.
He said sponsorships should be linked to clear training, registration and employment pathways, supported by sufficient teaching staff and clinical facilities.
Thien also called for the action plan to identify responsible agencies, funding and implementation targets, with quarterly reports on recruitment, staff retention and workloads.
He urged the government to provide updates on the federal inter-ministerial task force and plans to strengthen specialist services in Sandakan and Tawau.
“For Duchess of Kent Hospital and healthcare facilities across Sabah, success means sufficient staff, better access to care and protected staff welfare,” he said. – James Leong
Thien urged the government to clarify how many recruits would be allocated to Sabah.
