SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 — The Selangor Frontliner Apprenticeship (Selfa) programme, due to kick off next year, will address nurse shortages, especially at private hospitals.
Selangor ex-health director Dato’ Dr Khalid Ibrahim said this is because many nursing students who hold degrees from higher learning institutions are choosing to work abroad.
“Private hospitals are different from government ones. With the Health Ministry (MOH), it has its own training centre, the MOH Training Institute, so their students are only for the MOH.
“Many universities or learning centres offer frontliner programmes but at the degree level, they can work abroad in Singapore, Saudi Arabia and such.
“There is a shortage of frontliners who hold diplomas, so Selangor’s step is a really good approach to ensure the country has enough nurses,” he told Media Selangor.
Dr Khalid, who is also a Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) medical faculty lecturer, said most private hospitals depend on nursing students to deliver the best service.
“These hospitals depend on (nursing) graduates from colleges or private or public universities. Selgate is taking an early step in preparing frontliners,” he said.
When tabling the 2026 Selangor Budget, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced Selfa and its RM4.74 million allocation that aims to produce competent, competitive healthcare frontliners through education funding.
He said Selfa gives students the opportunity to enrol in critical three-year courses in the healthcare sector, including Universiti Selangor’s (Unisel) nursing, physiotherapy, medical imaging and medical laboratory technologies diploma programmes.
