Singapore, 10 July 2007 – Health Management International Limited (“HMI” or the “Group”) is working with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (“WDA”) to implement a new programme(the “Programme”) tohelp prepare Singaporeans/Permanent Residents as Healthcare Assistants (“HCAs”) for the step-down care sector, comprising community hospitals, nursing homes and Voluntary Welfare Organizations (“VWOs”).
HMI’s Education Division has been providing healthcare vocational skills training programmes in Singapore for about five years through the HMI Institute of Health Sciences (“IHS”) School of Healthcare Vocational Training. IHS’ programmes have previously been approved under the Singapore National Skills Recognition System (“NSRS”). To date, IHS has trained and placed about 1,000 healthcare workers, including HCAs, operating theatre assistants, and outpatient care assistants, primarily in Singapore restructured and private hospitals.
“We are honoured to be working with WDA to implement this new programme for Healthcare Assistants in the step-down care sector. We will not only help the lower skilled workers retrainand raise their employability, but contribute to the successful management of this sector, which is growing in importance with the ageing population in Singapore.”
Dr Gan See Khem
Executive Chairman of HMI
The new Programme will beaccredited under the SingaporeWorkforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system for theCommunityand Social Services (CSS) sector. Under the Programme, HMI will screen applicants through a structured interview process. Based on past experience with placing local HCAs in nursing homes, selecting candidates with the right mindset and attributes is crucial to the success of the job placement. Selected candidates will undergo a three-day workshop to prepare them to work effectively as HCAs in a step-down care setting. The three-day workshop will serve to instill the appropriate mindset and values that will help the candidates deal with the working conditions in step-down care. Upon completion of the workshop, HMI will obtain commitment from step-down care institutions on an agreed number of HCAs to be hired. Candidates will be placed in jobs as HCAs in step-down care institutions while undergoing three months’ training at HMI. Upon completion of the training, candidates will graduate with the WSQ Higher Certificate in CSS (Senior Services).
The Programme aims to raise local employment and the employability of lower-skilled Singaporeans/Permanent Residents in step-down care sector, as well as to enhance the standard of healthcare support in step-down care institutions. Currently, the role of HCAs in the step-down care sector is often performed by foreign workers. The Programme targets to place and train 100 Singaporeans/Permanent Residents as HCAs in this sector.
With the shortage of skilled healthcare personnel and certified healthcare vocational skills training programmes across Asia, IHS is well positioned to expand its healthcare vocational skills training programmes into the region, in particular Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China.
The Programme is expected to be launched by the 4th quarter of 2007.
About Health Management Limited (HMI.SP)
Health Management International Pte Ltd (“HMI”) is a regional healthcare and education service provider with presence in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Group, has over the years, (i) strengthened its healthcare and hospital management services in Malaysia, (ii) focused on its hospital management services in Indonesia; and (iii) developed the Group’s education arm, HMI Institute of Health Sciences (“IHS”), as a premier provider specialising in nursing education and healthcare training.
About HMI Institute of Health Sciences
HMI Institute of Health Sciences (“IHS”) is the only dedicated private healthcare education provider in Singapore. Established in 2002, it is an Approved Training Centre and Approved Assessment Centre under the Singapore National Skills Recognition System implemented by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. To date, IHS has trained and placed over 1000 nurses and healthcare assistants in Singapore restructured hospitals, private hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes. For more information, please visit HMI’s corporate website at www.hmi.com.sg
About WSQ
The WSQ is a national competency-based qualifications system for continuingeducation and training aimed at equipping the workforce with the necessaryemployability, industry and occupational skills to remaincompetitive and add value to the organisation.
Issued for and on behalf of Health Management International Limited
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