Sabah to push federal government for better prioritisation of state healthcare needs
by Mariah Doksil · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (April 7): Sabah will intensify efforts to ensure its critical healthcare needs are effectively communicated and prioritised at the federal level, said Datuk Julita Majungki.
The State Minister for Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing said the focus is on ensuring that issues raised on the ground are not only documented but acted upon through clearer and more assertive engagement with relevant authorities.
“This is our state. Although healthcare falls under federal jurisdiction, we still have a responsibility to ensure Sabah’s needs are clearly communicated and given due attention,” she said following a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
Julita stressed that many challenges faced by major hospitals in Sabah are structural and cannot be resolved in the short term, requiring long-term planning.
“There are no quick fixes. No one can resolve all of this overnight. What we can do is ensure critical issues are conveyed more effectively and prioritised,” she said.
During a closed-door briefing, hospital management highlighted rising patient demand and mounting pressure on capacity, reflecting trends across the state’s healthcare system.
QEH, one of Sabah’s main referral hospitals, continues to operate under significant strain, with workload demands increasing steadily in recent years.
Key issues raised included the need to strengthen capacity, upgrade facilities and equipment, and improve operational efficiency.
Several proposals were put forward, including infrastructure expansion and enhancements to patient flow and support services to ease congestion and optimise existing resources.
Julita also acknowledged the heavy burden borne by healthcare workers, describing their contributions as immense and often underappreciated.
“I could see for myself the workload here is very high. The sacrifices made by doctors, nurses and all healthcare personnel are invaluable,” she said.
She added that the state government would continue to work closely with the Sabah Health Department and the Health Ministry to ensure the state’s healthcare needs are consistently raised and addressed.
“We recognise there are constraints, including matters beyond our control. However, whatever lies within our capacity will be pursued, particularly in strengthening communication and advocating for Sabah’s needs,” she said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, QEH Director Datuk Abd Kahar Abd Asis, Assistant Minister Datuk Rina Jainal, and Permanent Secretary Datuk Maria Chong.