Speaking at the “Human Rights Watch” online forum, Charles Hector cited issues like the closing of factories due to Covid-19 outbreaks as just an example where the state governments were unable to make their own rulings on the matter.

“One problem with our constitution is that health matters fall under the federal government. This is an impediment to state governments going forward.

“They have to get the approval of the federal government every time.

“We need to amend the constitution to give state and federal governments concurrent jurisdiction over health matters.”

Hector said it had become apparent that there was a “major problem” in that state governments were unable to dictate their own health policy.

This matter has received much attention since the pandemic struck the country and calls for some form of decentralisation of health matters have persisted.

During an online forum in June, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii had said decentralising healthcare would let local and state governments take geographic and demographic issues into account, as well as social diversity and the ever-growing health needs of the local population.

Citing the healthcare situation in Sarawak, he said many doctors in the state were not empowered to be policymakers and that this should change if the state wanted to achieve full autonomy in healthcare matters.

In May, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had said the implementation of pandemic SOPs should be decentralised.

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