KUCHING, Oct. 7 -- A total 293 of the 542 medical officer positions offered in Sarawak by the Ministry of Health (MoH) remain unfilled as the appointed officers failed to report for duty on Oct 1.

In revealing this to reporters today, Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said there are around 1,100 vacancies for medical officers in the state.

"We requested 650 candidates to fill these positions. However, we were only given 542 and of those only 249 reported for duty, while 54 per cent did not.

"So, more failed to report for duty than those who did," he said after launching Sarawak General Hospital's World Osteoporosis Day 2025.

Dr Sim said he hoped the upcoming meeting ...