PETALING JAYA: Lowering the entry requirements for nurses risks diminishing public perception of the profession, says the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM).
Its president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said there were serious concerns over the Health Ministry’s recent decision to lower the entry requirements for the Diploma in Nursing programme.
He warned that such a move could erode the public’s perception of the nursing profession.
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“Nurses already face numerous challenges in gaining the respect and recognition they deserve, and such a change could lower the status of nursing in the eyes of the public,” he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 10).
The ministry’s new directive reduces the minimum Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) qualification from five credits to three.
This adjustment, Dr Kuljit said, was made without prior consultation with private healthcare providers, a move APHM views as concerning given its potential implications on the quality of healthcare delivery.
Dr Kuljit emphasised the pivotal role that nurses play within the healthcare ecosystem, working closely alongside doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals to deliver comprehensive patient care.
“It is crucial that we uphold and continually enhance the quality of nursing candidates and graduates to maintain the integrity of our healthcare system,” he stressed.
APHM said maintaining higher entry qualifications is essential for the future of the nursing profession.
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It called on the ministry to reconsider the policy, urging that the decision be reviewed to protect the standards, respect and recognition that the nursing field has long strived to achieve.
“As an organisation committed to the advancement of healthcare, APHM is dedicated to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the nursing profession remains strong, respected and capable of delivering the highest standard of care to patients,” Dr Kuljit said.
He said APHM supports the employment of foreign nurses to address the current workforce shortage until local graduates, trained to the highest standards, are ready to enter the field.
Dr Kuljit also stressed the critical importance of maintaining educational standards in nursing.
“Medical treatment carries immense value, both in terms of outcomes and costs. We cannot afford to compromise on the standards expected in nursing education and practice,” he said.
