Putrajaya: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has emphasised that any outcome of the study on the recruitment of nurses from Indonesia must take into account the interests of the people, the welfare of Ministry of Health (MOH) staff, and the effectiveness of the country's healthcare delivery system.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ministry would extend its full cooperation to the Public Service Department (JPA) in facilitating the study, which was proposed by the Public Service Commission (SPA) following a suggestion from Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru, Sigit S. Widiyanto.

Dr Dzulkefly highlighted that the MOH is currently addressing the shortage of nurses through a multi-pronged approach, acknowledging that there are no quick fixes to this pressing issue. The shortage has been exacerbated by factors such as the two-year suspension of new intakes at the MOH Training Institutes (ILKKM) during the COVID-19 pandemic and a moratorium on private nursing schools, which was only lifted in 2024.

At the launch of the SPA MADANI Career Carnival 2025 in Putrajaya, SPA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus stressed the necessity of conducting a comprehensive study before implementing any proposals to hire Indonesian nurses for government hospitals.

The proposal has gained traction after the Johor state government, through its Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, publicly welcomed the strategic collaboration with Indonesia to address the nursing shortage in Malaysia, particularly in Johor.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi previously noted that major hospitals in Johor Bahru are experiencing a critical shortage of healthcare manpower, with some nurses managing more than 10 to 14 patients per shift, compared to the ideal ratio of 1:6 or a maximum of 1:8.