Wastage Patterns in the Nursing Profession in Singapore: a Study of Manpower Utilisation.

In recent years economists have again been emphasizing the importance of human capital formation in the development process. The cure most commonly prescribed for skill shortages has been increased training capacity. While expansion may be necessary, it is an expensive and intrinsically long-term solution. Moreover, it is not without its perils. This article briefly describes health services situation in Singapore, analyses the wastage patterns of qualified and student nurses, and presents suggestions for reducing this wastage.