Despite Its Huge Area, Sarawak Has Very Comprehensive Health Service: Wong

SIBU, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Despite its huge area as big as the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak has a very comprehensive health service in all categories provided for by the government, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh said.
For instance, it has 22 hospitals and 13 outpatient centres, he said.
"In addition, it has 226 health centres, eight special dental centres, 26 main dental centres, 129 primary school dental clinics, 24 in secondary schools and 74 mobile health teams serving statewide," he said.
Wong was speaking when launching the 64 Multislices CT Scanner, Digital Mammogram and Cardiology services at the Rejang Medical Centre (RMC), a private medical specialist centre here today.
He also said that the state had mobile dental teams while people in deep interiors were frequently served by the "flying doctor" Service.
"We also have seven 1Malaysia clinics while another one will be built this year. But we must admit we have not adequately provide the specialist service as expected by the people," he said.
In this regard, the private sector could play its role to complement the government effort, he said.
With the new facilities costing about RM3 million now available at the RMC, Sarawakians from the central region need not go to Kuching or Singapore for heart problem or cancer screening tests.
Wong believed the facilities would attract Indonesians across the border, thus boosting the state's effort to promote its health tourism.
RMC managing director of RMC Dr John Tang said the nine-year-old centre was now one of the most advanced private specialist medical centres in the state and the largest in the central region.
He also announced the appointment of Dr Annuar Rapaiee who is also the Nangka assemblyman here as its visiting consultant cardiologist.