(Kuching, 19th) The federal government has agreed to delegate some health autonomy to Sarawak in the areas of clinic registration, medical institution licensing, and regulatory enforcement, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Sarawak Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Dato Sri Dr. Sim Kui Hian announced the news during the summary of his department in the Sarawak assembly today.
“The federal government has agreed to delegate the powers of three main areas, granted by the Control of Private Healthcare Facilities and Services (CKAPS) of the federal government, to the Director of the Sarawak State Health Department, namely clinic registration, licensing, and enforcement. The power of appointing the Visiting Board now falls under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Minister of Public Health.”
The delegation of powers from the federal CKAPS to Sarawak is expected to accelerate decision-making processes and resolve certain issues while reducing red tape—excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that can hinder or impede actions or decisions.
Regarding the establishment of the Sarawak Medical Council (SMC) under the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Sim Kui Hian mentioned that discussions on its terms of reference are underway.
“The primary objective of the Sarawak Medical Council is to provide a local governance structure to ensure compliance with the Malaysian Medical Council regulations while addressing the specific healthcare needs and challenges of the Sarawak region.”
