Deputy health minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said there are currently 2,823 male nurses who make up 4% of the 70,653 nurses employed by the ministry.

“The health ministry’s nursing division is seeking to raise the participation of male nurses from 4% to 10%, although no specific timeframe has been set for achieving this goal.

“The nursing profession in Malaysia is predominantly dominated by females. The underrepresentation of male nurses may be due to a lack of awareness about the wide range of career opportunities available in the nursing sector.

“The ongoing modernisation and increasing use of medical devices at ministry facilities highlight the critical role of male nurses,” he said after officiating the 27th Joint Malaysia-Singapore Nursing Conference here today.

He also emphasised the need to dispel the perception that nursing is an exclusively female profession.

“There is still a societal perception that portrays nursing as a female-only domain. However, in developed and neighbouring countries, the demand for male nurses is evident and substantial.”

He said that in Muslim countries, the role of male nurses is particularly crucial in the nursing sector.

When asked about plans for the special recruitment of male nurses, Lukanisman said no specific initiatives have been established. Instead, the ministry is intensifying efforts to encourage men to consider nursing careers, he said.

“We prioritise recruitment based on meritocracy and individual interest. We are actively promoting from the school level onwards that the nursing industry is open to both genders.”

On foreign nurses, he said 168 have received approval to work at private hospitals and clinics nationwide.

“They are currently undergoing the necessary processes with the Social Security Organisation,” he said.