Dr Sim renews call for increased healthcare spending in Sarawak
KUCHING (July 26): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has renewed his call for increased healthcare spending for Sarawak, citing stark disparities in allocation compared to Western Australia, despite both regions having similar population sizes.
Dr Sim said the state government of Western Australia spends A$14 billion (approximately RM38 billion) or 31 per cent of its budget annually healthcare for its three million population, out of which 42 per cent is funded by the federal government.
In contrast, the Malaysian federal government allocates just seven per cent of the RM45 billion Ministry of Health budget for healthcare in Sarawak, which also has a population of about three million.
'(This) Is definitely not (because) Malaysia is more healthy or (due to a) very young population and does not need to increase in health care spending, but (because) we don't spend enough (on healthcare) . Hence, (it is) important to implement the White Paper of Ministry of Health approved by Parliament of Malaysia (needs a target of 5 percent of gross domestic product and a defined dateline),' he said.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, made these remarks in a Facebook post following a courtesy call on Dr Shirley Bowen, Director General of Health for Western Australia, in Perth on Friday.
The Malaysian Health White Paper (HWP), passed by Parliament in June 2023, outlines a 15-year plan to reform the nation's healthcare system.
Amongst others, it proposes increasing public healthcare expenditure to 5 percent of the country's GDP and aims to reform the healthcare system for greater equity, sustainability, and resilience.
On a related matter, he described the meeting with Dr Bowen as fruitful, with potential for future collaborations between the Sarawak and Western Australia.
He noted several similarities between the two regions: both are the largest states by land area in their respective countries, with comparable population sizes and strong economic performance.
He added both region are not only their nation's largest states by land area but also boast strong economies—Sarawak with the highest state revenue in Malaysia and Western Australia being the richest state in Australia by GDP per capita.
'Western Australia, the largest state in Australia, has a land area of 2.53 million square kilometres and a population of around 3 million, similar to Sarawak, which is the largest state in Malaysia with a land area of 124,450 square kilometres and a population of 2.9 million,' he noted.
Dr Sim added that Western Australia's healthcare system is overseen by five ministers, each focusing on a specific portfolio: Health and Mental Health, Health Infrastructure, Preventive Health, Medical Research, and Aged Care and Seniors. Dr Sim Kui Hian healthcare allocation lead Western Australia
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