KUCHING: There is a need to look into changing health-related policies in view of the country’s ageing population.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian said this would ensure healthy lives and promote well-being among all ages.
“Two weeks ago, Datuk Dr Andrew Kiyu, Dr Jamilah Hashim, and Sarawak legal adviser Datuk Seri JC Fong and I attended a workshop on health policies.
“For the first time, the Ministry of Health (MoH) invited everybody to come together after more than 50 years (to talk about health policies).
“In the last 50 years, the country did very well with the old model. But in the next 15 years we need to change our model,” he said during the Anti-Dengue Campaign at Futsal Court, RPR Batu Kawa Unity Hall here on Today (Aug 20).
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government said health policies must look into issues concerning ageing population, and diseases such as heart attack and stroke as well.
“(We want to ensure) that by 2030, Sarawak is prosperous and strong, and at the same time the people could live longer and healthier.
“And not the other way around. That is to live longer, but falling sick and staying in the hospital. This is the current situation now, it is not good. So, we need to change this,” he said.
On another note, he said one of the reasons why Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasises on public health is because the state has depended too much on the federal government on the matter of public health.
“The federal government does a good job, our divisional medical offices do a good job, but they are short of manpower.
“So how are they going to look after everybody so well? That is why the Sarawak government will need to look after its people.
“And Sarawak’s aspiration is that our health autonomy be given to Sarawak so that we can increase our spending to look after our own people in terms of public health,” he pointed out.
