Nursing Profession Got the Government's Interest

The Government gives further attention to nursing profession not only to retain nurses in the public sector but also to produce high turn out of such personnel. With RM70 million budget this 2009, the amount will be allocated for the training of 5,600 nurses in colleges under the Health Ministry, and 2,000 nurses in private training colleges.

According to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, graduates in interconnected science courses will be allowed to continue a nursing occupation by undertaking one-and-a-half-year diploma in nursing instead of the usual three years to supply the increasing demand for nurses. In analyzing the budget yesterday, he said the position of assistant nurses will be promoted to community nurses after they have completed the six-month nursing program. He also added that to be able to support the development of regional health tourism in the Northern Corridor Economic Region, the Government will give a launching grant of RM30mil to launch an industry-based and non-profit training centre. In addition to this, the incentive grant for medical specialists would be increased to maintain them in the civic sector. About 3,800 specialists will be dealing with this mission with an additional expenditure of RM26 mil.

Abdullah said the Government will increase incentive expenses for the travel of medical teams in Sabah and Sarawak where medical aides and nurses will receive RM30 each per return trip. This is an increase of RM10 and RM15, correspondingly. The said expenses are unexpected but it will be of help to defeat the shortage of nurses in the future. [via]