Kelvin Yii: BIW is a vital policy tool for public health

The Regional Incentive Payment, better known in its BM acronym as BIW, is not a privilege but a policy tool for public health service, argued Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) in his address of thanks to the Agong in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“BIW is not a privilege. It is a vital policy tool that ensures fair and sustainable health in areas that are geographically challenging, having less manpower with pressures from higher cost of living

“Sarawak has a serious shortage of doctors. Latest data shows 43 percent medical officers placed in Sarawak failed to report for duty.

“It depicts the problems in retaining the workforce in the health sector. The doctor for people ratio is 1: 510 people compared national ratio of 1:406 people

“This means Sarawak has 21% less doctors and needs hundreds of specialist doctors

“Under the new civil service system, medical officers placed in Sabah and Sarawak only receive a fixed rate of RM360 per month compared to the old system that calculated based on a percentage of salary where the allowance can be upto RM1000.

“This is a drastic cut and can dampen the spirits of health workers to serve in areas such as in Sabah and Sarawak.

The DAP lawmaker pointed out the government only needs RM4.2 million annually if they were to revert to the previous incentive system.

“The government only needs to allocate RM4.2 million annually based on the 700 plus medical officers in service.

“The amount is small in terms of national expenditure but the benefits in the continuity of health services, patient safety and workforce stability is massive.

“If the issue is not handled we are bound to worsen the health work force crisis and hasten the migration of our health professionals to foreign nations.

“Upto 30% of our medical personnel have already opted to work in Singapore due to better salary scheme

“This is a question of justice among territories.”

The issue was raised by Yii since Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud claimed that the BIW was a privilege even though there was a massive cut in the payout.

Mustapha said it was a privilege in a written reply.