JOHOR BARU: Johor will hold talks with the Health Ministry to address the outflow of healthcare workers to Singapore, says state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon.
The Johor health and environment committee chairman said the departure of local healthcare workers to the Island Republic, while worrying, was not something new.
"We have been informed that this has been the case throughout this year, and the past several years as well.
"There are hospitals in Singapore offering very attractive packages to healthcare workers in Johor, and some of them have accepted these offers," he said in a press conference after the state-level Nurses Day celebration.
He said this in response to a question from the media about claims on social media that Singapore's Health Ministry is actively recruiting Malaysian healthcare workers with lucrative salaries.
"We will engage with the Health Ministry to address the issue.
"This includes increasing the number of trainees and providing attractive offers and opportunities to our healthcare workers so that they feel valued serving in the government health system.
"We also hope to instil a sense of heart and soul to care for our homeland, so that together we can offer our services to the country," he said.
Ling said that the discussion with the Health Ministry will also include talks on the replacement of healthcare workers who would be transferred to the soon-to-be opened Hospital Pasir Gudang.
“Some of the staff will be transferred from existing facilities to ensure the hospital can begin operations as scheduled on Aug 1.
“As these positions are now vacant due to the transfers, we will be meeting with the Health Ministry to request that these vacancies be filled as soon as possible.
“I will personally be going to the ministry tomorrow to discuss several matters, especially the staff shortage at our hospitals,” he said.
Also present at the event here was Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and state health director Dr Mohtar Pungut.
More to come
