Singapore unit plans health laboratory chain

Healthcare Management International (HCMI) Education, a Singapore-based health care professional recruitment network, is planning to invest $10 million in the next two to three years over "allied health care services" in India.

The institute will open about six laboratories altogether in major metros across the country to prepare Indian nurses and other paramedical professionals for placement in the US.

The centres are expected provide online review services, apart from practical training for clearing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for entry-level nursing practice and National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE) for physiotherapy practice licences in the US.

The centres will come up in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Cochin.

According to market survey conducted by HCMI, about 15,000 nurses in India on an average aspire to go to the US for better renumeration. Also, a majority of the 30,000 physiotherapists presently working in India would like to go to work in the US, if given a chance.

Currently, the placement agency is bullish in roping in Indian students for MBBS courses in the Philippines, where it has tied up with seven private medical colleges in the country. The role of the agency will be to provide admission assistance and visa for the students. It also claims to arrange a five-year visa for the parents.

HCML has identified 37 medical colleges in the Philippines, with the capacity of admitting 5,000 medical students for future tie-ups. The present capacity is 700 students.

It also plan to invest $50 million in three years to upgrade infrastructure in the colleges.

According to Baljit Singh, managing director, HCML, Singapore, the course fee for studying in the Philippines is between $20,000 and $28,000 for a four and half year programme, whereas the cheapest MBBS course in the US would cost around $35,000.

The eligibility criteria for admission includes a minimum 50 per cent marks in science and English at higher secondary level, apart from specific tests by different colleges.