MORE foreign-trained doctors are flocking to Singapore, now that their medical degrees are recognised here.

Last year, it attracted 190 such doctors, including 39 Singaporeans returning here to work. This is a third more than the 138 who came here to work in 2005.

The numbers are still climbing, with 196 foreign-trained doctors - of whom 48 are Singaporean - joining the medical fraternity this year.

The majority of returning Singaporean doctors are those who wanted to pursue medicine, but were unable to secure a place at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

While it has increased the number of medical students at NUS, and will get a boost with the opening of the new Duke Medical School this year, the demand for doctors still outstrips supply.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said many times in recent years that Singapore needs to attract more good foreign doctors to work here, since the country will not be able to train up enough on its own.

Between 1993 and 2003, only graduates from 24 overseas medical schools could work here as qualified doctors - unless they also hold a specialist degree.

At that time, Singapore wanted to rein in the increasing number of doctors working here, for fear that too high a supply could lead to higher healthcare costs as patients are persuaded to undergo unecessary treatments.

So it had slashed the number of recognised degrees from 176 to 24.

But in recent years, Singapore, like most developed countries, is facing a shortage of doctors, especially in the public sector.

In 2003, the ministry expanded the list gradually, widening the net for doctors who can work here. The country now accepts graduates from 140 schools, mainly from developed Western countries.

From next month, another 20 schools will be added.

This time, the focus is on Asia, with six from China, five from India, four from Japan, two from Taiwan and one from South Korea. The remaining two are from Europe.

A ministry statement on Thursday said: 'As Singapore's population ages, there will be increasing demand on healthcare services'.

Demand will also be pushed up as more foreign patients flock here for treatment.