200 doctors are gazetted as practising in Sarawak
in 1982. 88% are males and only 12% are
females. Of the 200, 65.5% are Chinese and the
natives of Sarawak and Indiansform 15.5% each.
Nearly 30% are graduates from local
universities, 44% from universities in
Commonwealth countries and a few from
universities in other countries. The majority of the
doctors are under 40 years of age. 55 %
are in government service, while 45% are in the
private sector. All private practices are solopractices
except three-one each in Kuching, Sibu
and Miri which are based on partnership. The
number of doctors with specialist qualifications is
not known as it is not essential for these
qualifications to be entered in the Register. The
doctor-to-population ratio in Sarawak has
improved from 1: 14000 in 1964 to 1:6856 in 1982.
To reach the Ministry of Health's target of 1:2500
by 1990, a yearly recruitment of 58 doctors would
be needed from 1983 to 1990. This would be
feasible if either an admission quota to the local
medical faculties for Sarawakians is implemented
or more doctors are posted to serve in Sarawak.