KUCHING, Sept 26 2026: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian has expressed his frustration over migration of trained healthcare personnel after being trained Sarawak.
He said this is a big challenge facing the healthcare workforce in the state.
He said that this issue requires attention in efforts to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity, including ensuring that the training provided fosters not only skills and knowledge but also the values and commitment to serve.
“We train many healthcare personnel, yet they eventually migrate. That is the situation we are facing now. We train many only for them to migrate; then we say, ‘don’t train them’— at least then they wouldn’t migrate,” he remarked at the Borneo Health Scientific Conference here.
He added that healthcare workforce development must be viewed holistically, emphasizing expertise, workforce development, research, and the use of technology to enhance the quality of healthcare and expand public access.
“What is more important to us is ensuring the quality of healthcare and how services are delivered to the community. This requires the government, public and private health sectors, universities, researchers, the industry, professionals, and various experts to work hand-in-hand,” he further stated.
According to him, a collaborative approach among various stakeholders is crucial to generating new solutions for health challenges, including ensuring that developed expertise is optimally utilized within the state's healthcare system.
Dr Sim added that the strength of the healthcare system should not be measured solely by the number of facilities, but rather by treatment outcomes and the benefits received by patients.
In the context of neuroscience, he noted that the rising incidence of stroke and dementia underscores the growing importance of strengthening the field—specifically through early diagnosis, more effective treatments, and improved rehabilitation.
The conference brought together approximately 200 participants, including health professionals, medical practitioners, researchers, academics, and industry stakeholders from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Kalimantan, and other regions.
Also in attendance were KPJ Healthcare Berhad’s Officer-in-Charge and Medical Director-General, Professor Dr Hanafiah Harunarashi; KPJ Healthcare University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainol Abidin; Regional CEO for East Malaysia, Dr Kenny Yeap Kim Pey; KPJ Healthcare University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr Lekhsan Othman; Kuching Specialist Hospital Medical Director, Dr Mahadhir Alhady Sulaiman; Kuching Specialist Hospital CEO, Nor Azlina Jemain; and the Chairman of the 1st Borneo Health Scientific Conference, Dr Lau Bik Liang.
