High Commissioner Senarath Dissanayake and Singapore’s Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung explore healthcare collaboration opportunities, emphasizing nurse recruitment and medical training programs.
SINGAPORE – On July 23rd, a pivotal meeting occurred at the Ministry of Health in Singapore. High Commissioner Senarath Dissanayake and Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung discussed enhancing healthcare cooperation between Sri Lanka and Singapore. High Commissioner Dissanayake expressed gratitude for Singapore’s support in bolstering Sri Lanka’s healthcare response during the pandemic. He highlighted the success of the Nurses Recruitment Project, through which approximately 400 Sri Lankan nurses are currently employed in Singapore’s public healthcare sector on two-year contracts. The High Commissioner proposed extending this opportunity to private hospitals in Singapore.
He also emphasized the significance of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between SingHealth and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medicine, advocating for the continuation and expansion of this program to benefit Sri Lankan medical professionals through enhanced training.
Minister Ong Ye Kung expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration, noting the successful integration and performance of Sri Lankan nurses in Singapore’s healthcare system. He acknowledged Singapore’s intention to recruit more nurses and directed Ministry officials to facilitate further discussions regarding future collaborative projects with SingHealth and the Sri Lankan High Commission. Additionally, the Minister proposed exploring further dialogues with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health on exchanging medical professionals, sharing best practices, and initiating capacity-building efforts for Sri Lankan healthcare professionals.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Lyn James, Director of International Cooperation, Ms. Crystal Bay, Lead Manager of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health, Singapore, and Mr. Ahamed Razee, Minister and Head of Chancery of the High Commission.
Source: High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore
