Wards, ICUs remain shut due to shortage of nurses

KUALA LUMPUR: The shortage of nurses in Malaysia has caused several wards and intensive care units in newer hospitals to remain closed. Revealing this on Friday, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the situation existed in hospitals including those in Serdang, Sungai Buloh, Ampang and Sungai Petani. "Many new hospitals are not able to open wards, intensive care units and operating theatres, which need a lot of basic nurses," he told reporters after opening the 2nd Universiti Malaya Medical Centre Nursing Congress 2008. He said as of March this year, only 85.9% of the 42,476 staff nurse posts had been filled with 6,004 posts vacant. "The need for specialised nurses is increasing in line with increasing specialisations of medical practice," he said. There were 11 areas, which lacked nurses with post-basic training... [read full story]