Is Malaysia bleeding nurses to foreign countries?

 

In recent years, Malaysia has seen an exodus of its nurses to foreign lands - with neighbouring Singapore emerging as a favourite destination.

According to Health Ministry statistics, the number of vacancies for nurses in the nation’s public health sector has shot up to 40 percent in just the last four years, since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ministry, in a parliamentary reply last month, said there were 2,106 vacancies for nurses in 2020, and the number went up to 2,224 in 2021, 4,420 (2022), and a staggering 6,896 in 2023.

A couple of nurses Malaysiakini spoke to attested to moving to Singapore to work, for better pay and working benefits.

Norerani Karim, 43, worked for 20 years as a nurse in Malaysia, before leaving to work at a government hospital in Singapore three years ago.

She admitted that it was initially hard to leave her family to work in Singapore, but she toughened up “because I needed the job.”

Norerani used to work six-day shifts in Malaysia, whereas in Singapore, she commits to a 40-hour work week, and gets two days off a week.

She also vouches for the diversity in her current workplace, excellent management and strong teamwork in her current workplace.

Compensation-wise, Norerani said she earns between S$5,000 and S$6,000 a month, which amounts to between RM17,593 and RM21,102 - a lucrative sum after taking into account the currency exchange rate.

In addition, Norerani also enjoys bi-yearly bonuses and medical benefits.

Although she misses home, Norerani said it will be a while before she considers returning.

Better prospects

Like Norerani, Nur Atiqah Mohd Idris, 30, was also drawn to work in Singapore by the lucrative salary.

She will be heading to Singapore next month and says the move is beneficial for her career progression and her family.

Having worked as a nurse in a private hospital in Selangor for nine years, Atiqah said she spent more time at work than at home.

“I believe that one should not stay in the same company for a long time, because it would slow down career and salary progress,” she told Malaysiakini.

The mother of two said she plans to work down south for two years, before considering returning if she receives a better offer back home.

According to Atiqah, she accepted a job in Singapore over a similar offer in Saudi Arabia.

“There are many vacancies in Singapore, and they pay nearly the same, or even higher than Saudi Arabia.”

‘Offer better incentives’

According to a report in Utusan Online today, the average salary of Malaysian nurses, at RM1,800, is among the lowest in the Asean region - beaten only by the likes of Laos (RM973.34), Myanmar (RM1,182), and Indonesia (RM1,400).

Quoting 2022 statistics from Worldatlas.com, the report said the rate is lower than countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, which have smaller economies than Malaysia’s.

Brunei is reportedly the best-paying country for nurses, with an average salary of RM10,752, followed by Singapore with RM8,777.

Malaysian Nurses Union president Saaidah Athman suggested the government offer better incentives to make nurses stay longer in the local medical industry.

“The Singapore government offers incentives and funds to retain foreign nurses in their country. Malaysia should do the same and reward long-service nurses as a token of appreciation,” she said.

She said the country’s nurse-to-patient ratio stood at 1:300 - way higher than the 1:200 set by the World Health Organization.

Saaidah said this was a serious problem that needed to be handled immediately.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz advised the government to focus on enhancing healthcare workers’ welfare and work-life balance to uphold the quality of the public health sector.

“It is essential to raise the nurses’ salaries and ensure they receive an appropriate allowance to retain those serving in our public healthcare system,” she was quoted saying by The Sun. - Mkini