Chinese not too keen on nursing

Star: SEREMBAN: Chinese are reluctant to become nurses and this is cause of concern to the Health Ministry.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said government and private nursing schools trained some 5,000 nurses yearly and only 10% were Chinese.
“I am not happy with the situation.
“If this continues, Chinese patients may face communication difficulties in hospitals.
“Patients feel more comfortable when conversing in their mother tongue or dialects,” he said after attending the convocation ceremony of 271 nurses at the Seremban Nursing College.
All the graduates were non-Chinese.
There are now 27,000 nurses, a ratio of one to 600 people, serving at government and private hospitals in the country.
Dr Abdul Latiff said the ministry hoped to have a ratio of one to 200 by 2010.
He said the public must change their perception that nurses only help the sick.
“Nurses also promote healthy living to help the fit-and-well maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Abdul Latiff also said the Government could not stop nurses from working overseas such as in the Middle East and Europe due to the better pay there.
“It is a good sign, showing that our nurses are well trained and recognised internationally,” he said.