The S3 Conference 2025 in Singapore marked the launch of the first healthcare simulation certification programmes tailored for Southeast Asian professionals. The Certified Educator in Healthcare Simulation (CEHS) and Certified Technologist in Healthcare Simulation (CTHS) programmes were introduced to provide specialised training for doctors, nurses, and technical specialists in the region. The event was attended by Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health.
Existing international certifications, primarily based on American contexts, have resulted in low pass rates for Southeast Asian participants, with figures standing at 14.6% and 15% for the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist programmes, respectively. The new CEHS and CTHS programmes aim to bridge these gaps by offering content that reflects Southeast Asian healthcare settings and scheduling that suits regional time zones.
The programmes are set to commence by the end of 2026, initially training 50 participants in the first year. Plans are in place to expand the intake over five years to address the increasing demand for healthcare simulation professionals in the region. Key benefits of these certifications include contextualised examination content and training scheduled for Southeast Asian time zones, making them more accessible and relevant to local healthcare professionals.
