Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in response to the shortage of nursing staff and medical practitioners in public hospitals and health institutions, my Ministry has put in place a number of short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to ensure that health care services continue to run smoothly and effectively. With regard to nursing staff, several actions have already been taken. On 23 August 2025, 36 nurses were recruited on sessional basis. These nurses are actively working in helping to support the health system. In addition, a public advertisement was issued on 23 September 2025 to hire 90 more sessional nurses. With a view to building a stronger supply of future nurses, 300 Trainee Nurses have already been enlisted in the financial year 2025- 2026 as of 22 September 2025. As part of our sustained efforts, my Ministry further plans to enlist 500 additional Trainee Nurses in the financial year 2026-2027 and another 200 Trainee Nurses in the financial year 2027-2028. This will help to ensure a steady supply of trained nurses in the years to come. As regard medical practitioners, it is to be highlighted that there are presently 120 doctors who proceeded on study leave without pay for postgraduate specialisation. My Ministry encourages specialisation in scarcity fields, thereby providing the opportunity for doctors to upgrade their skills and expertise in the medical field, which will eventually benefit our health care services. To this end, to palliate for the lack of doctors, my Ministry has, on 03 September 2025, recruited 25 Medical and Health Officers/Senior Medical and Health Officers on a yearly contractual basis. My Ministry has also re-advertised for the recruitment of an additional 30 more Medical and Health Officers/Senior Medical and Health Officers on a contractual basis. These doctors will help fill the gap in staffing and reducing the pressure on the current workforce. As a medium-term measure, my Ministry has requested the Public Service Commission to recruit 111 additional Medical and Health Officers/Senior Medical and Health Officers. In this respect, I am informed that interviews are presently ongoing at the level of PSC.

74 Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to further inform the House that for both medical and nursing staff my Ministry is working on a long-term plan. A manpower assessment, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, is currently being carried out. The study will help the Ministry to understand how many doctors and nurses will be needed in future with a view to ensuring effective and efficient planning of human resources in our healthcare system. In addition, my Ministry is further reviewing the functioning of all our public health institutions. This includes the current shift system of Medical and Health Officers/Senior Medical and Health Officers in the hospitals and the opening hours of mediclinics, area health centres and community health centres. The aim is to improve human resource management and to make services more efficient and accessible to the public at large. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, together, these measures demonstrate my Ministry’s strong commitment to improving staffing levels in the public healthcare system, ensuring that patients continue to receive safe and quality health care.

Yes, hon. Quirin!

M. le président, l’honorable ministre peut-il indiquer à la Chambre s’il existe une disposition permettant d’envisager le recrutement sous contrat de médecins et d’infirmiers retraités du secteur public comme du secteur privé, ayant dépassé la limite d’âge ? Bien sûr, s’ils sont jugés aptes à travailler.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in exceptional cases, when the scarcity was felt, we then had recourse to the recruitment of doctors as well as nurses, but it was below 70 years. We were bound to do it as there was a big shortage, and the previous government had done nothing in that field.

Okay. The hon. First Member for Port-Louis North and Montagne Longue! OPEN UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS – ALLEGED UNFAIRNESS & COMPLAINTS – INQUIRY