Programme in the offing to address shortage of paramedics

Star: GEORGE TOWN: St John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM) and Open University are planning to offer a Diploma in Pre-Hospital programme by January in a bid to address the country’s acute shortage of paramedics.
Apart from being the first of its kind in the country, this online programme is the first to be offered by the non-governmental organisation.
Currently, there are about 100 paramedics in the country, said SJAM Commander-in-Chief Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick.
He said the university would conduct the diploma’s theory syllabus, while the students would receive their skills training from the organisation.
SJAM and Open University are designing the syllabus, which will be submitted to the National Accreditation Board and Health Ministry for approval.
“There’s no point awarding a piece of paper if it’s not recognised by the board and ministry.
“We want our graduates to be employable,” he said after the annual marching inspection attended by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at Padang Polo yesterday.
Dr Low said they hope the programme would be subsequently developed into a degree.
On another matter, he said SJAM planned to raise RM1mil by December for the Sichuan Earthquake Rebuilding Fund to build an orphanage in Sichuan. Earlier, Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Datuk Seri Kamal M. Hashim presented a new ambulance to the SJAM Penang branch. The vehicle was bought from the proceeds collected at the Starwalk Carnival Charity Concert 2006.