KOTA KINABALU: There is no need to set up a new training centre specifically for nursing training in Sabah, says Datuk James Ratib.
The state Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister said shortages of medical staff including nurses and specialists in the state arise from economic and vacancy constraints, not lack of training centres.
“Therefore, there are no plans to set up a training centre in Sabah as of this moment,” he said during the question and answer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here, Wednesday (Nov 20).
Ratib said for Sabah, there are enough nursing trainees at the various Malaysian Health Ministry Training Institutes (ILKKM) here, with 1,126 trainees in Kota Kinabalu, 160 in Sandakan and 180 in Tawau.
“However, these ILKKM will be transformed into Centres of Excellence - CoE to create more skilled and quality healthcare workers,” he said.
For this purpose, ILKKM in Sabah will be equipped with the latest teaching and learning tools while the comfort and welfare of trainees will be given better attention, he said.
Datuk Jaujan Sambakong (Warisan-Sulabayan) later posed another question asking if the minister agreed that it was better to provide skills training rather than continue to give subsidies and handouts for the long term.
He said this was because proper training would enable the individual to equip himself with the required knowledge and skills to increase their employability rather than creating a "community of subsidy".
He also said that these training centres can help SPM leavers who are not able to go for tertiary education earn very much needed employment skills and reduce unemployment rate in Sabah.
Ratib said while he agreed with this notion, it was necessary to understand that economic constraints from the government as well as limited vacancies are hampering some of these employment initiatives.
He said shortages in skilled nurses and doctors or specialists are also due to better opportunities in countries such as Singapore.
Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang), meanwhile, wanted to find out updates to a recent suicide incident involving a doctor in Lahad Datu and allegations of sexual and other forms of harrassment at workplaces in Sabah.
Ratib said he is aware of these incidents and is working with the federal Health Ministry to find out what happened.
He also engages in monthly meetings as well as discussions with directors and heads of departments in the Health Ministry to talk about arising issues and find ways to address them.
