SANDAKAN: Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien has urged the Sabah Government and its Ministry of Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing to publish a funded healthcare workforce action plan within 30 days, addressing immediate shortages, staff welfare and the development of local doctors.
Responding to the Malaysian Medical Association Sabah Branch’s call for urgent intervention, he said Sabah could not afford a “wait-and-see” approach.
“Patients need timely treatment, while healthcare workers need proper rest, fair benefits and safe working conditions. The 30-day deadline is for publishing the plan. Emergency assistance must begin immediately,” he said.
Thien acknowledged MOH’s recruitment exercise for 750 permanent medical-officer positions across Sabah and Sarawak, with reporting proposed for February 2027, and temporary staffing assistance for Ranau Hospital.
“These are necessary steps. The government must explain how many recruits Sabah will receive, where they will serve and how critical gaps will be covered until they arrive.”
He also acknowledged the state minister’s proposals on regional incentives and relocation assistance, urging the government to disclose their approval status, funding and implementation dates.
Short term: Stabilise services within three months
Thien called for a facility-by-facility assessment of staffing and workloads, followed by temporary reinforcements prioritising the most affected hospitals and clinics.
He supported additional deployments from Peninsular Malaysia, with funded travel, accommodation and clear rotation arrangements.
“Moving doctors between understaffed hospitals in Sabah simply shifts the pressure. Critical facilities should have confirmed replacements or temporary cover before staff transfers proceed, with reasonable exceptions.”
Immediate measures should also protect rest periods, review excessive consecutive duties and reduce administrative burdens on clinical staff.
Medium term: Improve welfare, benefits and retention
Over three to 12 months, Thien proposed a retention package covering safe accommodation, relocation assistance, targeted hardship incentives, timely payment of entitled allowances and better access to professional development.
Staff wellbeing should include confidential mental-health support, family-friendly arrangements where feasible and fair access to leave.
“These measures must support existing healthcare workers as well as new recruits. Nurses, assistant medical officers and other frontline personnel must also be included in workforce and welfare planning.”
Drawing on Australia’s approach, Sabah could explore incentives reflecting posting difficulty and sustained service, alongside clearer career and specialist-training pathways.
Long term: Develop more Sabahan doctors
Thien proposed strengthening BKNS and Yayasan Sabah assistance through dedicated medical sponsorships with UMS and other recognised institutions, taking lessons from Sarawak’s announced UNIMAS initiative.
Singapore’s grants for students already partway through medicine offered another useful approach, while Thailand’s experience highlighted rural student recruitment and clinical training closer to underserved communities.
“Sponsorship must connect with registration, training and employment pathways. More places must be supported by sufficient lecturers, supervision and clinical facilities.”
Thien said the 30-day plan must identify responsible agencies, budgets and delivery milestones, followed by quarterly reporting on actual arrivals, retention and workloads.
He also sought progress updates on the federal interministerial task force and specialist-service plans for Sandakan and Tawau.
“For Hospital Duchess of Kent and facilities across Sabah, success means sufficient staff, better access to care and healthcare workers whose welfare is protected. The government must show when these improvements will reach the ground,” he said.
