KUCHING, April 14 ― Palliative care services will be vital in the state as Sarawak is set to have its own cancer hospital in the near future, said Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.

As such, he was pleased the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) has chosen Sarawak as its first training ground in Malaysia to equip healthcare personnel with the necessary skills and knowhow to provide holistic palliative care for terminally ill patients.

"This marks a very important milestone as with this, Sarawakians, be they from the rural or urban area, will have similar access to healthcare services and the rural folk will not be deprived of such a right,” he said before sealing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak government and APHN in promoting and providing palliative care services in the state during a ceremony here last night.

Dr Sim, who is also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, pointed out that cancer is the second most common non-communicable disease in Sarawak, with over 3,000 cases diagnosed a year.

He said it did not help that Sarawak would have an ageing population in another decade or so, which would also see the number of cancer patients increase.

As such, he said Sarawak would require enhanced palliative care services as presently not all hospitals could take care of cancer patients.

"This commitment of (Singaporean philanthropic group) Lien Foundation and APHN is very meaningful as it contributes to not just healthcare building but also nation-building in Sarawak,” he said.

Dr Sim also stressed the Sarawak government remains committed to regaining its health autonomy from Putrajaya.

"We want to take back health matters but we still want the federal government to fund it (health). We need to sit down to form a formula, just like Scotland’s healthcare is still funded by the UK.

"In the past, we did not have enough manpower but now we have enough manpower, and we know what to do with our healthcare. So, we want the autonomy back to Sarawak,” he said.

He assured APHN that the state government would do its best to provide and promote palliative care services in Sarawak.

"We will do our part for the rest of the region, just like what we have done for our Heart Centre, which helps train personnel in the region. That’s our commitment,” he pledged.

Dr Sim noted that 48 healthcare personnel from 12 institutions in the state are undergoing palliative care training.

"This is the beginning of a new chapter for the palliative care of Sarawak. It comes with a lot of responsibility and you have all the support you can get. With all the support you have, there is only one option ― success.

"The 48 of you are very special. Your main focus is to learn well, and do your job well to be part of the nation-building of Sarawak,” he added. ― Borneo Post