The Malaysian health ministry will not implement a plan to recruit foreign nurses in the near future due to high costs and complex regulatory hurdles, according to Secretary-General Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad. The ministry is instead prioritizing the expansion of local training and the return of retired nursing staff to address shortages in government health facilities.
Speaking on the Bicara Sihat Edisi Khas podcast, Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad explained that bringing in foreign healthcare workers involves significant financial burdens. He noted that the government might have to cover various expenses, including agents’ fees, comparing the process to the costs incurred by employers who hire foreign domestic helpers.
Beyond the financial impact, the Secretary-General cited a lack of existing inter-governmental cooperation and the difficulty of recognizing international qualifications as primary barriers. He stated that “there is a lot that needs to be done” before such a proposal could become a reality.
Why is the foreign nurse proposal currently unfeasible?
The primary obstacles to importing foreign nursing staff are administrative and financial. According to Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, the government lacks the necessary cooperation agreements with other nations to facilitate a streamlined recruitment process.
The recognition of qualifications serves as another critical bottleneck. These systemic gaps, combined with the potential for high recruitment fees, have led the ministry to pivot toward domestic solutions.
How is the ministry addressing the nursing shortage?
To fill the gap in government health facilities, the health ministry is focusing on three domestic strategies: increasing student intake, partnering with the private sector, and re-engaging former employees.
The ministry is currently expanding the capacity of its own training institutes. Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad stated that the goal is to increase the intake of nurses from approximately 3,000 to a target of 5,000 per cohort.
Additionally, the ministry plans to begin collaborations with private nursing colleges starting next year.
Can retired nurses return to the healthcare workforce?
The government is actively encouraging retired or former nurses to return to service. Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad noted that some professionals choose early retirement for various personal reasons but may later wish to return to the clinical environment.
The ministry intends to offer these returning professionals appointments on a contract basis or as needed.
The ministry’s current focus remains on these internal capacity-building measures. Further updates on the collaboration with private nursing colleges are expected to emerge in early 2025.
Do you think focusing on local training is enough to solve the healthcare shortage, or should the government reconsider foreign recruitment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.