3 strategies to handle critical nurse shortage in hospitals

The health ministry is strengthening three key strategies to address the critical shortage of nurses.

Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said they involved increasing the number of nursing graduates, expanding career pathways and implementing direct recruitment, as well as greater autonomy in staffing management.

Of the 73,281 Grade U5 nurse positions, there are currently 10,557 vacancies in health facilities, Bernama reported him as saying at the convocation ceremony for the Ministry of Health Training Institute (ILKKM) in Kota Kinabalu today.

Dzulkefly said the intake of nurse trainees had been increased to 3,000 a year from last year.

“To expand this strategy, the ministry aims to outsource up to 2,000 trainees a year to public higher education institutions and private higher education institutions.”

In addition, he said four ILKKM branches in Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Muar and Penang would reopen by October 2027, providing an additional capacity for about 500 trainees.

“This will allow a total of 5,500 trainees to undergo the Diploma in Nursing programme every year,” he added.

For the second strategy, Dzulkefly said the ministry would roll out 15 on-the-job training programmes this September to enable staff to enhance their expertise without having to leave their workplace for long periods.

“The ministry is also expanding the career pathway for community nurses to become nurses through the Transition Diploma.”

Under the third strategy, Dzulkefly said the public services department had approved an exemption from interim contract appointments for eligible ILKKM Diploma in Nursing holders.

“This means all ILKKM Diploma in Nursing graduates who have successfully completed the programme and registered with the Nursing Board of Malaysia will be absorbed directly into permanent positions.”

Dzulkefly said since July 9 this year, the ministry had also been granted autonomy in staffing management to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate the direct placement of qualified personnel in the field.

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