KOTA KINABALU: Nurses should be retained to work at their state of origin, said Sabah Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib.
He added that there were many issues and challenges faced by nurses not only in rural and remote areas, but also in urban areas in the state.
"Sabah itself requires more nurses to be placed at its hospitals and clinics. But there are nurses from Sabah who are transferred to Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
"Therefore, as the Sabah state health executive councillor, I request that the Health Ministry to retain the nurses serving in Sabah and not transfer them to Peninsular Malaysia or Sarawak," he said during the Malaysian Nurses Association 74th annual general meeting at Sabah International Convention centre here.
Ratib, who was also the Sugud assemblyman, said there were 10,286 nurses serving in the state, with 959 more vacancies to fill.
He also proposed that the vacancies be filled by trained but unemployed nurses in Sabah, including workers under the MySTEP programme, who could be absorbed into permanent positions.
Meanwhile, on the welfare of nurses, he said their living quarters were still not up to standard.
"I request that the Health Ministry look into this as housing is a basic necessity that should be enjoyed by nurses, especially those serving in rural or remote areas.
"I am also informed that community nurses (midwives), who underwent courses at the Health Ministry Training Institute (ILKKM), are facing salary issues when they receive new appointments. Their salaries are much lower than their previous salaries as community nurses.
"Therefore, I also hope the Health Ministry will consider making salary adjustments for them," he said.