HMI Delivers Results on Pilot National Programme

Singapore, 18 June 2008 – Health Management International Limited, (“HMI”), a regional healthcare service and education provider, has successfully trained and placed 50 students in the step-down care sector in Singapore since its launch in last September.

Announced last July, HMI is working with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (“WDA”) to implementa pilot national programme (“Programme”) to help prepare Singaporeans/Permanent Residents as Healthcare Assistants (“HCAs”) for the step-down care sector, comprising community hospitals, nursing homes and Voluntary Welfare Organizations (“VWOs”).

This Programme aims to raise local employment and the employability of lower-skilled Singaporeans/Permanent Residents in step-down care sector, as well as to enhance the standard of healthcare support in step-down institutions. It targets to place and train 100 locals as HCAs in this sector by December 2008.

In view of the Group’s good performance, WDA has extended the appointment of the Group as the programme manager today, to train an additional 150 Singaporeans/Permanent Residents as HCAs.

“We are pleased to have contributed to the success of this pilot national programme. Working together with WDA, we have managed to equip 50 students with the necessary soft and hard skills to work in a step-down care institution like community hospitals and nursing homes. This is a small but progressive step in our efforts towards training our lower-skilled workers to upgrade their skills and to improve their employability.” — Dr. Gan See Khem, Executive Chairman, HMI

In conjunction with the signing of the extension agreement with WDA, the Group also hosted the graduation ceremony for the 3rd intake of Community Health Care Assistants, the 33rd intake of Inpatient Care Assistants and the 6th intake of China Nurses. Ms Lynn Ng, the director of Community and Social Services division from WDA is the Guest of Honour for the event.

” ^{1 [Source: Ministerial Committee on the Ageing Population 1999]} The support that we have received from WDA is instrumental to our success in implementing these courses. With an aging population, it is estimated that the hospital admission rate for aged 65 and above, will increase from 8.5% to 18.9% of the total population by 2030. This means there will be a significant need for healthcare personnel. We look forward to working closely with WDA to nurture more skilled healthcare personnel to resolve the acute shortage in the step-down care sector.” — Dr Gan See Khem, Executive Chairman of HMI

HMI has been providing healthcare vocational skills training programme in Singapore for the past six years through the HMI Institute of Health Sciences(“HMI Institute”).HMI Institute’ programmes have previously been approved under the Singapore National Skills Recognition System (“NSRS”). To date, HMI Institute has trained and placed about 1,000 healthcare workers, including HCAs, operating theatre assistants, and outpatient care assistants, primarily in Singapore restructured and private hospitals.

With the shortage of skilled healthcare personnel and certified healthcare vocational skills training programmes across Asia, HMI Institute is well positioned to expand its healthcare vocational skills training programmes into the region, in particular Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China.

About Health Management Limited (HMI.SP)
Health Management International Pte Ltd (“HMI”) is a regional healthcare and education services provider with business activities in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the People’s Republic of China. HMI has two core divisions; the Healthcare Division and Education Division.
HMI’s Healthcare Division comprises the Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca, a leading medical tourism provider in Malaysia, and the Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor, a premier hospital slated to commence operations in end June 2008. HMI currently has a network of 7 international patient centers throughout Indonesia. HMI’s Education Division comprises the HMI Institute of Health Sciences in Singapore, a dedicated provider of professional nursing and healthcare training services. HMI has expanded its presence in China through strategic collaboration programs. For more information, please visit HMI’s corporate website at www.hmi.com.sg.

About HMI Institute of Health Sciences
HMI Institute of Health Sciences (“IHS”) is the only dedicated private healthcare education provider in Singapore. Established in 2002, it is an Approved Training Centre and Approved Assessment Centre under the Singapore National Skills Recognition System implemented by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. To date, IHS has trained and placed over 1000 nurses and healthcare assistants in Singapore restructured hospitals, private hospitals, community hospitals and nursing homes.

About Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA)
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) seeks to enhance the employability and competitiveness of our workforce to meet the changing needs of Singapore’s economy. Working with industry, unions, employers, economic agencies, professional associations and training organisations, the agency’s efforts are targeted at supporting industry growth by building a pipeline of workers through training and skills upgrading, and raising industry standards through enhancing manpower capabilities.
For more information, please visit http://www.wda.gov.sg