Indian nursing institution recognised by SG Govt ranked 751st-800th by QS
It was reported that the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) had clinched top 11th and 12th position respectively in the annual Quacquarelli Symonds (Q…
It was reported that the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) had clinched top 11th and 12th position respectively in the annual Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking.
NUS had previously ranked 15th in the 2018 ranking and NTU, at 10th.
Meanwhile, the Singapore government has gone ahead to officially recognize nursing degrees from 7 of the Indian institutions. This came about after PM Modi and PM Lee witnessed the "successful" conclusion of the second review of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) last week (1 Jun).
The new CECA enhancements include expanding tariff concessions for an additional 30 products and improving rules of origin to provide more flexibility for Singapore exports into India, MTI said. However, it avoided mentioning the mutual recognition of nursing degrees and diplomas under the new enhanced CECA in the main section of its media release. Hidden in Annex A of its release is a cryptic clause which said:
"Both countries have agreed to a Mutual Recognition Agreement on Nursing to facilitate better understanding of the Parties’ standards in regulating the training and practice of nursing."
The Indian government, on the other hand, was quite forthcoming in announcing Singapore's recognition of the nursing degrees from 7 of their institutions. The press statement from India's Ministry of Commerce & Industry read:
"India has signed the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in Nursing with Singapore. This is the first MRA being signed by India with any of our FTA partners. In a major gain for India, Singapore agreed to expand coverage of Indian nursing institutions by recognising seven nursing institutions in the MRA."
Nothing in the MTI's press statement talked about the Singapore's recognition of the Indian nursing degrees.
Recognized Indian institution by Singapore Govt ranked 751st-800th by QS
The negotiations between India and Singapore on the MRA for nursing has been going on for sometime prior to the signing of the second review of CECA last week.
In 2015, The Economic Times of India mentioned that Singapore will be recognising nursing degrees awarded by 4 of their institutions ('Soon Indian nurses may practise in Singapore as it signs MRA pact'):
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
- Manipal University, College of Nursing
- Christian Medical College (Vellore)
- College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram
Among the 4 universities mentioned by The Economic Times above, only Manipal University was ranked by QS, at 751st-800th position in the world. The top Indian university ranked by QS was Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) at 162nd.
Originally, the Indian Nursing Council had insisted that every nurse trained at any of the India's recognised institutions be eligible to practise in Singapore but was declined by the Singapore side. So, at the moment, Singapore only allows nurses from 7 of their institutions.
An Indian official, quoted by The Economic Times even touted the competitive low salaries required to employ any nurses from India. "We are the most competitive in nursing. This will open avenues for our nurses to go and practise in Singapore at competitive packages," the official said, requesting anonymity.
It has also been reported that both countries are negotiating MRAs for other professions, including chartered accountancy and architecture.
Other than Singapore, The Economic Times also said that India is in talks with Korea and Japan to recognise Indian degrees in various areas including nursing and medicine. "Although India has similar comprehensive pacts with Japan and South Korea, there has been no progress on the services front with these countries," it reported.
In other words, both Japan and South Korea have been resisting letting Indian professionals to work in their countries, unlike Singapore.
Endemic corruptions in India
Checks on the 4 named institutions above have shown that some have been mired in corruption cases.
In 2015, AIIMS administration was accused of corruptions by a group of senior faculty members from the institute. The group wrote to their Health Minister asking for his intervention. It was alleged that there were irregularities in the recruitment process for the various scientist positions at the institute, although AIIMS denied the charges.
Just this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation of India charged an AIIMS' official together with some public servants for helping a supplier to secure 17 tenders using forged documents. The case pertains to tenders for supply of medical devices awarded in 2013-14.
And during the graduation ceremony at Manipal University this year, invited UK speaker Prof David Gordon of the President World Federation of Medical Education told the Indian graduating students specifically that there can be no corruption, no dishonesty and no bribery. "Bad practice must be rooted out,” said the UK Prof.
"New graduates in medicine – and indeed new PhD graduates – are embarking on a career where factual knowledge, practical skill and the arts of communication with patients and colleagues are essential. These are not enough. Medical practice also requires the highest standards in ethics, judgement, moral purpose and respect for the law. The welfare of your patients must always come first," Prof Gordon told the graduates.
"In this address I have already referred many times to ethical or moral issues around the study and practice of medicine, rather than directly talking about the science and art of medicine itself," he added.
This entry was posted in Current Affairs, Health, Opinion.
