Foreign nurses not perfect solution
While a proposal to bring in foreign nurses may seem like a viable solution, it will be far better if the country can hold on to local nurses, say industry players.
With the Health Ministry projecting a critical shortage of nurses – or a 60% deficit – by 2030, there has been a call to hire foreign nurses.
However, the call by medical practitioners has been met with cautious concern by local nursing professionals.
“Language and cultural integration also have to be considered,” said Datin Dr Aishah Ali, a member of the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imam).
“In Malaysia, nurses must be fluent in Malay. If a foreign nurse cannot communicate in the local language, a third person is required to assist during patient care, which is neither cost-effective nor efficient,” she said yesterday.
“Cultural competence is key to delivering proper care. Foreign nurses must be trained not just in language but also in local customs.”
She said while medical practitioners, particularly private hospitals, may welcome foreign nurses due to lower salary expectations, other issues persist.
“At institutions like AIMST and other private universities, students are fully sponsored – including tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation – but only at diploma level.
“I work at a private university where all diploma students are fully funded by hospitals.
“However, once they graduate, they only stay for five years before leaving, and the cycle repeats,” Dr Aishah said.
The root of the problem, she said, lies in recognition and retention.
“Despite the degree programme being introduced 32 years ago, graduates are still being paid diploma-level salaries.
“Retaining nurses will only be possible if they are given due recognition and fair wages,” she added.
She also highlighted salary disparities between Malaysia and other countries.
“In the Middle East, Malaysian nurses can earn up to RM20,000 – tax-free, with free housing and transport. The same goes for Singapore.
“It’s no surprise that many of our nurses are now working in Germany, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US,” she said.
As of 2021, Dr Aishah said Malaysia had only 3.53 nurses per 1,000 population – the third lowest among upper-middle-income countries.
This is far below the average of 9.62 and lags behind countries like Germany (14.02) and New Zealand (11.67).
“Malaysia is currently short of 6,000 nurses, and according to a 2024 survey, nurse turnover reached a catastrophic rate of 27.1% in 2021.
“This is a healthcare crisis in the making,” said Dr Aishah.
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has suggested a policy requiring all new nursing graduates to work in Malaysia for a minimum of three to five years before seeking employment abroad.
Its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said such a policy is needed in light of the growing number of hospitals and increasing demand for healthcare services.
“Currently, we are relying almost entirely on private nursing colleges. Once they graduate, there are no restrictions – many leave the country within a year or two for better incentives overseas,” he said.
Dr Kuljit too said countries like Singapore and Saudi Arabia offer significantly better salaries and benefits.
“After the Covid-19 pandemic, interest in nursing as a career has greatly diminished.
“We are unable to recruit enough local nurses but demand continues to rise with more new private hospitals,” he said.
To address the issue, Dr Kuljit urges the Health Ministry and the Nursing Board to work closely with APHM under a public-private partnership to promote nursing among schoolchildren and youth.
“We must make nursing a meaningful and sustainable career option,” he said.
He stressed the importance of offering competitive salaries, clear career pathways, greater autonomy and a more conducive working environment.
“If we are serious about retaining our nurses, we must treat them like the professionals they are,” he said.
Source: The Star
Category: MJN enews
