The Health Ministry’s decision to exempt foreign nurses from obtaining a Post-Basic Qualification to work in Malaysia will enable private hospitals to serve public hospital patients as part of the Public-Private Partnership, said the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president, Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh.
In a statement today, Dr Kuljit said this new exemption would alleviate the strain on private hospitals due to the continuous congestion, allowing them to further expand their bed capacity.
“The association received a letter from the Registrar of the Nursing Board, saying the exemption will be given from Oct 1 to Sept 30, 2024 with additional extensions granted based on re-applications and approvals.
“Previously, only foreign Post-Basic nurses were allowed to work in the country, which was strictly regulated,” he said.
He explained following the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for regular trained nurses has increased as local nurses have gone to other countries for better pay.
“Private hospitals would like to thank the Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and the Registrar of the Nursing Board, Devi Saravana Muthu, for their assistance in this matter.
“Our repeated requests have been granted, and patients seeking private care will now have better access and earlier admittance with available beds.” he said, adding that this initiative by the Health Ministry demonstrates their concern for public healthcare delivery that supplements public healthcare.
Dr Kuljit mentioned that Malaysia has great potential to be a healthcare hub for our local patients and medical tourists.
“We hope that the Healthcare White Paper will enhance public-private collaboration, allowing individuals to receive appropriate care on time, regardless of their financial situation, and ensuring the long-term viability of the workforce,” he said.
On July 27, New Straits Times reported on parents concerned about the difficulties in getting bed admissions at private hospitals, which weremostly full to a brim.
Some asserted that they had to contact up to four hospitals, yet none had the capacity to admit new patients.
In response to the NST report, this association said many hospitals had reached their capacity, causing delays in admission.
Dr. Kuljit explained that private hospitals had the capacity to increase the number of beds, but a shortage of nurses has been a limiting factor.
He warned that the situation would worsen in the coming months if the government did not address the shortage of nurses, calling on the government to consider the proposal of recruiting private foreign nurses as a quick solution to the problem. – NST