Sarawak Minister Warns Of Burnout Cycle As Severe Nurse Shortage Strains Healthcare System Urges Federal Support

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Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin (centre) joins senior nurses in the cake-cutting ceremony. — The Borneo Post picMIRI, Sept 28 — Sarawak is confronting a severe nursing shortage that is straining the state’s healthcare system and jeopardising patient care.
In observing this, state Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin believed that the shortage stemmed from several factors, including staff burnout from heavy workloads, difficulties in recruiting and retaining nurses due to limited incentives and relocation support, and rising healthcare demands from an ageing population and increasing non-communicable diseases.
“Inadequate funding for hospital positions and facilities further adds to this pressure,” he said when officiating at the Nurses Night 2025, at the Imperial Hotel here on Friday.
The Senadin assemblyman said these challenges had created a dangerous cycle that could intensify the shortage over time.
“Understaffing leads to burnout, which in turn causes more nurses to leave the profession.
“This deepens the shortfall and puts the quality of patient care at risk.”
He thus called upon the federal Ministry of Health to prioritise Sarawak in national healthcare planning, stressing the urgent need for sustained investment and greater support to strengthen the state’s nursing workforce.
“We need immediate action to fill vacant positions and ensure our healthcare services can meet the growing needs of the population, especially in rural and remote areas,” he said.
On a more positive note, Lee commended Sarawak’s nurses and midwives for their dedication, particularly those serving in challenging environments outside urban centres.
“Your perseverance and commitment reflect the true spirit of Florence Nightingale — serving with compassion, courage, and selflessness.”
While acknowledging the need for systemic intervention, Lee urged nurses and midwives to continue upskilling and maintaining high professional standards.
He also paid tribute to midwives, describing them as ‘unsung heroes’ who played a critical role in ensuring safe deliveries, especially in the rural communities.
Among those present were Miri Hospital’s chief nursing supervisor Matron Rose Mary Jok and the dinner’s organising chairperson Matron Yuhanis Dee. — The Borneo Post

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