Overview

Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, is situated on the island of Borneo and has a population of approximately 3 million. Most of the population resides in rural areas, with a few urban centers and Kuching serving as the capital city. Palliative care services in Sarawak are likely to be accessible to only a tiny portion of the population, although the estimated coverage for Malaysia as a whole is around 10%.

In early 2022, representatives from the palliative care community in Sarawak applied for the state to be considered for the Lien Collaborative project. A team consisting of the APHN Chair, APHN Vice Chair, one of the APHN members, and CEO of the Lien Foundation visited several sites in Kuching and held meetings with key stakeholders in the second half of 2022.

For successful participation in the Lien Collaborative project, political support, access to medicines, support for multi-sector education, and service development are key factors. Fortunately, these were present at different levels in Sarawak. Some weaknesses have been identified, and it is hoped that a state task force in palliative care will discuss and address these in the coming months. The proposed scope of training under the Lien Collaborative will need to be deliberated further to achieve the best outcomes.