Embrace modernisation to improve healthcare services, S’wak assistant medical officers told
by Yunus Yussop · Borneo Post OnlineBINTULU (April 10): Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs) in Sarawak have been urged to embrace modernisation, strengthen professional competencies and uphold compassion in delivering quality healthcare services in line with evolving demands post-pandemic demands.
Sarawak chief AMO Samsuri Md Isa said the role of AMOs has become increasingly critical as the healthcare system undergoes transformation.
“Healthcare delivery can no longer be business as usual. We must move faster, be more efficient, and think more strategically,” he said during the Sarawak-level Medical Assistants Day 2026 celebration here yesterday.
The event, themed ‘Driving Service Modernisation, Elevating Healthcare Quality’, was officiated by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib.
Samsuri outlined three key priorities to enhance the profession and the healthcare delivery framework.
Firstly, he stressed the need for service modernisation through the adoption of digital technology, including electronic medical records and clinical innovations, to improve efficiency.
Secondly, he called for continuous competency development among AMOs, including enhanced clinical skills and leadership training.
“We want to produce a workforce that is not only competent but also capable of critical thinking and able to compete in a rapidly changing environment,” he said.
Thirdly, Samsuri emphasised the significance of integrity and empathy in healthcare, noting that technological advancement alone is insufficient without strong human values.
“In medicine, technology may help treat patients, but it is humanity that truly heals,” he added.
Samsuri described Sarawak’s AMOs as frontliners who play a crucial role in strengthening the healthcare system.
“If we want a strong healthcare system, we must empower those on the frontlines,” he said, adding that AMOs are not merely implementers but drivers of change.
Samsuri expressed hope that the annual celebration would serve as a catalyst for renewed commitment among healthcare workers to deliver excellent service.
He also conveyed his appreciation to all AMOs in Sarawak for their dedication, sacrifice and tireless service in ensuring efficient and quality healthcare delivery across the state.
The ceremony was attended by Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah, deputy directors, healthcare officials, and members of the medical assistants’ fraternity.