Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan said the longstanding shortage of doctors at Hospital Tawau has reached a breaking point, raising concerns over patient safety and the quality of healthcare services on Sabah’s east coast.
Its Health Bureau Chief, Dr Istefan Koh, said the issue has been repeatedly highlighted over the past two years but has continued to worsen.
He claimed the situation has been exacerbated by the hospital’s exclusion from the list of placement locations for contract medical officers being absorbed into permanent government positions.
According to him, the staffing shortage could result in longer waiting times, delayed treatment and reduced healthcare services, forcing many patients to travel to Kota Kinabalu or seek treatment at costly private facilities.
Dr Istefan noted that Hospital Tawau serves as a key referral centre for Sabah’s east coast, operating 13 wards and providing specialist services, including dialysis treatment and cardiac diagnostic care.
He also called for greater transparency regarding measures previously announced to address the shortage, warning that services may eventually have to be reduced if immediate action is not taken.
“This is not a new problem. We have consistently raised the alarm over the declining number of doctors in Tawau since 2024.
“Regrettably, the situation has grown progressively worse and is now approaching a critical threshold where patient safety and service quality are at stake,” he said in a statement.
A major factor contributing to the crisis, he said, was the exclusion of Hospital Tawau from the placement list for contract medical officers transitioning into permanent positions.
“This policy gap means the hospital is being denied a vital stream of new talent, leaving it unable to replace doctors who resign, retire or are transferred elsewhere.
“Without a steady supply of new permanent staff to fill vacancies, staffing levels will drop sharply. This is not just about numbers – it directly impacts the care patients receive,” he said.
Dr Istefan said the effects of the shortage are already becoming evident and are expected to worsen if left unresolved.
He warned that patients could face longer waiting periods at outpatient clinics, reduced consultation hours, delays in diagnosis and treatment, as well as the scaling back or suspension of specialist services.
“For many residents, this leaves no choice but to travel hundreds of kilometres to Kota Kinabalu or seek care at expensive private facilities, placing a significant financial and logistical burden on families,” he said.
