SINGAPORE, 1 MARCH 2010 – Health Management International’s (HMI) education arm, HMI Institute of Health Sciences (HMI Institute), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) to collaborate on the promotion of Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) funded Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) healthcare skills training to the Chinese community to meet the rising demands for higher skilled workers for the fast growing healthcare industry in Singapore.
HMI and CDAC will pilot the new initiative under the CDAC’s new Workers’ Upgrading and Employment Programme “Skill Up for Better Jobs”. This is to boost the supply of trained local healthcare workers to meet the growing needs of Singapore’s fast ageing population and create new employability for job-seekers referred to HMI by the CDAC and vice versa.
Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the CDAC Workers’ Upgrading and Employment Committee officiated today at the signing of the MOU between CDAC and HMI Institute at the Institute’s training centre located in Bukit Merah.
Dr Gan See Khem, Executive Chairman of HMI, commended the CDAC for promoting the re-skilling and skills upgrading of workers in Singapore. She said that the CDAC sponsored trainees at HMI Institute Institute of Health Sciences, totaling 39 since April 2009, will contribute significantly not only to the rising healthcare needs of Singapore’s ageing population, but also to Singapore’s status as a regional medical hub.
Dr Gan said, “HMI is honored to partner with CDAC to encourage more individuals from the Chinese community to enter the fast growing healthcare industry in Singapore. We are pleased to provide nationally accredited WSQ healthcare skills training for those seeking entry career opportunities, and WSQ advanced certificate courses for those wanting to further their career advancement in the healthcare industry. As a regional healthcare and education services provider, we are proud to contribute to Singapore nationally as a regional medical hub, and to the extension of Singapore healthcare skills training standards to our hospitals in Johor and Malacca in Malaysia.”
Under the collaboration, HMI Institute will introduce new courses such as the Healthcare English Familiarization module to familiarize candidates with occupational English as well as a bilingual SPUR-funded Healthcare Attendant course (leading to the WSQ Certificate in Healthcare Support) to facilitate employment of new entrants with primary or below education into the healthcare support sector.
Existing healthcare personnel will be able to upgrade themselves for career progression with the new SPUR-funded WSQ advanced certificate courses and upgrading courses to be offered by HMI Institute. CDAC will also provide additional course fee funding support for eligible candidates training at HMI Institute.
HMI Institute and CDAC will screen potential candidates based on their academic and career track records, and other criteria required of a healthcare vocational worker. All candidates will be put through a structured interview process focused on aptitude, soft-skills and attributes necessary to enhance their employability as a healthcare worker in the Singapore healthcare system.
HMI Institute is the healthcare education extension of HMI, which is one of the two healthcare service providers chosen by the Ministry of Health to provide overseas hospitalisation and day surgeries under the Medisave scheme. Starting today, Singapore residents can now make use of Medisave overseas for the approved hospitalization and day surgeries at HMI’s 2 Malaysian hospitals, the Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor and Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca.
ABOUT HMI INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The HMI Institute of Health Sciences is a leading private healthcare education provider offering nationally accredited nursing education and healthcare training services. It is a Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) appointed Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centre and was awarded CaseTrust for Education for good business practices since November 2005. For more information, please visit the HMI Institute website at www.hmi-ihs.com.
ABOUT HEALTH MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
Health Management International Pte Ltd (“HMI”) is a regional healthcare and education service provider listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange. HMI has presence in 5 countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and the People’s Republic of China.
The HMI Group has two core divisions, Healthcare and Education. Its Healthcare Division comprises 2 hospitals in Malaysia; Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor and Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca; and a network of 18 Representative Offices located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore. The Group’s education arm, HMI Institute of Health Sciences, is the first dedicated private provider of nationally accredited nursing education and healthcare training in Singapore. For more information, please visit the HMI Corporate website at www.hmi.com.sg
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