Cross-border Health Threats: Regional Partnerships Are Vital - Dr Sim

SIBU, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Regional partnerships are vital in addressing cross-border health threats such as rabies and other public health challenges, said Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

He said health issues could no longer be seen in isolation, stressing that cooperation between Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan was essential to ensure collective protection and sustainable solutions.

“For example, rabies is not just about eliminating it in Sarawak. We also have to consider how to prevent it from spreading to our neighbours in Brunei and Sabah, which may have limited veterinary resources,” he said when opening the inaugural Borneo Health Summit and the 41st Sarawak Health Conference themed Towards 2030: A Better Health for All here today.

Dr Sim pointed out that sharing expertise, pooling resources and forming cross-border collaborations would help Borneo tackle both communicable and non-communicable diseases more effectively.

“Health for all means not just medical practitioners, but policymakers, local councils, universities, industries, and even veterinary experts must come together. Regional collaboration ensures no community is left behind,” he said.

Dr Sim said Sarawak was increasingly recognised as a key player in Borneo’s health landscape, with its facilities, clinical research capability and policy initiatives serving as a reference point for the wider region.

“With new facilities like the Sarawak Cancer Centre, Infectious Disease Centre and satellite heart centres, Sarawak can play a leading role in strengthening healthcare capacity for the whole island,” he said.

He congratulated the organisers for hosting the back-to-back events, saying the summit marked an important step towards building a healthier and more united Borneo.

The inaugural Borneo Health Summit and the 41st Sarawak Health Conference, organised by the Sarawak Public Health Practitioners Association, in collaboration with the Sarawak Health Department, gathered nearly 450 participants, including healthcare practitioners from Singapore, Sabah and other parts of Malaysia.

It carries forward the legacy of the Sarawak State Health Conference, which has been held since 1973, with the most recent edition of that series being hosted in 2022.

-- BERNAMA