Brunei - Bright future in healthcare

FOR Bruneian youths aspiring to become healthcare professionals serving the citizens and residents of this country, opportunities abound.

As long as they can fulfil the academic criteria required by the relevant courses, students in the Sultanate should not face difficulty in getting a job when they graduate, as their services are in high demand.

In launching the biennial Careers Carnival at the Health Promotion Centre on Tuesday, its minister, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof said Brunei lacks the required healthcare professionals compared to developed nations.

He cites these statistics (2010): patient to doctor ratio is 736:1; patient to pharmacist is 9,637:1; patient to dentist is 4,819:1.

In comparison with developed nations where patient to doctor ratio, for example, is 170 to 300 patients per doctor, Brunei's situation is considered dire.

Allied health professionals such as clinical psychologists and speech language therapists are also severely understaffed, the minister added.

As the country's population continues to grow, there is obviously a need for more healthcare professionals to serve the local community.

Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said the lack of healthcare workers in Brunei is an issue that the ministry is taking very seriously. It is good that the ministry is planning for the future.

The Careers Carnival which is set to end this Sunday is hoped to provide students with the relevant information to enter the medical and healthcare sector, with 30 professionals stationed throughout the six days beginning February 7.

The ministry also unveiled an initiative called "Pharmacy Technician Course" which is slated to begin this July and will hopefully address the shortage of pharmacists in this country.

Brunei Times

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