He said medical assistants play an even more critical role in Sarawak because about 50% of health facilities have no doctors.

“Based on national standards, we need an estimated additional 50% of doctors – almost 2,000 more – just to meet the required ratio. Because of this gap, medical assistants take on vital responsibilities that ensure healthcare services continue uninterrupted,” he said, the Borneo Post reported.

Sim, who is state minister for public health, said that at least 203 vacancies of assistant medical officers need to be filled immediately.

He also expressed gratitude to health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad for taking measures to strengthen the role of medical assistants, including proposed legislation allowing them to prescribe basic medicines for minor illnesses.

Dzulkefly had announced earlier this month that the ministry will issue a circular soon to allow medical assistants to issue prescriptions for specific categories of medicines for fever, cough and diarrhoea.