MALAYSIA NEEDS MORE SKILLED NURSES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai
said Malaysia needs more skilled nurses in midwifery, intensive care, coronary
care, trauma and rehabilitation.

"Only 31 percent of vacancies had been filled by skilled nurses. We will
increase them from time to time'" he said after witnessing the memorandum of
agreement (MoA) signing between the Health Ministry and 40 public and private
institutions of higher learning here Thursday.

Liow said 420 nurses had been trained in the five areas and cited lack of
places as the cause for the small number.

"They need training of six months to one year to specialise. Some 80,000
nurses or 88 percent of vacancies had been filled in hospitals and clinics
nationwide," he added.

Malaysia has 109 colleges and universities offering nursing courses. They
included 85 IPTS, 10 IPTA, one by the Defence Ministry and 38 by the Health
Ministry.

Some 1,078 Malaysian nurses are employed overseas, particularly in the
Middle East, while 1,118 nurses from 19 Commonwealth and Asean countries are
working here.

-- BERNAMA