Better connectivity opens doors for rural healthcare

KUCHING : Sarawak’s investments in roads, water supply and telecommunications are laying a stronger foundation for better healthcare access, particularly for rural and remote communities.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Professor Dr Helmy Hazmi said these developments complemented the healthcare initiatives under the Sarawak 2027 Budget by supporting healthier communities and bringing medical services within easier reach.

He described the healthcare measures as well targeted, with attention given to the ageing population, chronic diseases and access to specialised treatment.

“The state’s investments in water supply, roads and telecommunications also contribute to better health and healthcare accessibility, particularly in rural areas. These underpin good health and make services like telemedicine possible,” he told Sarawak Tribune.

Dr Helmy said better roads and bridges could improve journeys to healthcare facilities while allowing healthcare teams to reach more communities.

He pointed out that improved telecommunications also offered opportunities to expand telemedicine and connect rural clinics with specialists.

“We should also make better use of the improved telecommunications infrastructure to bring telemedicine and specialist consultations to rural clinics,” he said.

Building on these improvements, Dr Helmy proposed that Sarawak consider a dedicated, centralised emergency retrieval system to coordinate medical advice and patient transportation.

He said a model similar to Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) could allow rural healthcare workers to contact a round-the-clock coordination centre through a single call.

“A doctor assesses the case, advises on immediate care by phone or video, and decides whether the patient needs to be moved, how — by air, road or river — and to which hospital. Everything is arranged from there. In an emergency, a delay of several hours can make a real difference to whether a patient survives and how well they recover,” he said.

Dr Helmy said the proposed system could potentially make better use of existing resources by coordinating aircraft, boats and ambulances across districts.

He pointed out that some patients could be managed safely through remote medical advice, while those needing a transfer could receive the appropriate transport from the outset.

However, he said a fiscal study would be needed to assess the proposal.

He also highlighted the contribution of mobile clinics, the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) and village health volunteers in extending care to remote communities.

“Our village health volunteers, the Wakil Kesihatan Kampung, have long been the eyes and ears of rural communities, but their numbers have declined sharply in recent years. They should be revived as a supported, paid role linked to the nearest clinic, with an expanded focus on chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension,” he said.

To sustain these services, Dr Helmy suggested relocation assistance, rural service incentives, comfortable staff quarters and family support to attract and retain healthcare personnel.

He said closer cooperation between the Sarawak and federal governments would help translate infrastructure investments into better services.

“Clear targets, including emergency response times and specialist waiting times, could help track improvements and ensure patients benefited from healthcare spending,” he added.