Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasizes the need for ongoing investment in the healthcare workforce.
SINGAPORE: As part of efforts to strengthen Singapore’s healthcare workforce and make jobs in the sector more appealing, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Friday (July 29) that nurses will receive an enhanced payment package for the years 2022 and 2023. Further details about this package will be revealed on Nurses’ Day, August 1.
Mr. Ong highlighted that nurses deserve additional compensation due to the ongoing pandemic, suggesting it may take the form of a retention payment during his speech at the 2022 Healthcare Scholarships Award Ceremony.
In 2021, public healthcare sector nurses saw their salaries increased following a remuneration review, with adjustments implemented in phases over two years. Mr. Ong noted that the second phase of this adjustment was completed this month.
BUILDING A STRONG HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
According to Mr. Ong, Singapore must maintain its “relentless effort” to enhance the healthcare workforce in terms of size, capability, and quality. The country’s aging population, combined with COVID-19, has underscored the demand for healthcare professionals.
“The pandemic has led to a heightened need for well-qualified healthcare workers, especially nurses, in many countries. Singapore is recognized for training its healthcare workforce effectively, making it an attractive source for qualified personnel,” he stated.
He emphasized that healthcare can no longer be viewed as solely a local service, as competition for healthcare talent is now international and increasingly intense.
To cultivate a robust nursing workforce, Mr. Ong pointed out the need to improve two critical aspects that contribute to the healthcare sector’s attractiveness: remuneration and the professional work environment.
“Nurses are professionals who aspire to perform at the highest level of their licenses,” he remarked, calling for the reduction of unnecessary administrative tasks, the introduction of technology, and the enhancement of IT systems.
He also noted the importance of attracting younger individuals to the nursing field, highlighting that both Nanyang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic can collectively accommodate about 1,400 students. Additionally, the Institute of Technical Education enrolls close to 500 students, while the National University of Singapore and Singapore Institute of Technology nursing schools take in approximately 400 to 500 students, primarily from A-Level and polytechnic backgrounds.
Mr. Ong mentioned that 100 to 200 adult workers undergo skills conversion programs each year to transition into the nursing profession.
“I believe the standing of nurses has significantly risen in our society over the years. They are often regarded as heroes and role models, and it is now common to see young people, both men and women, aspiring to become nurses or allied health professionals,” he added.
However, he acknowledged that Singapore is a small nation with limits to educating and training local nurses to meet increasing demand, which is why recruiting foreign nurses—who constitute a third of all practicing nurses in the country—remains essential.
“We will continue to seek ways to ensure that foreign nurses feel like integral members of the Singapore healthcare community, and that they can develop their careers here,” he said.
COVID-19 WAVE
Addressing COVID-19 infections, Mr. Ong mentioned that Singapore should see a further decline in the current wave in the coming week. He noted that infection numbers have been decreasing, and the week-on-week infection ratio has dropped below 0.9 recently.
Singapore reported its first three community cases involving the BA.4 and BA.5 variants in May, along with eight cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.75, six of which were local infections.
“What’s significant is that we have managed this wave without imposing additional social restrictions or border measures, thanks to a majority of the population receiving their booster shots. Our healthcare system has also been able to handle the current infection wave,” he stated.
To alleviate the strain on the healthcare system, patients deemed lower risk have been transferred to COVID-19 treatment facilities, and long-term patients have been moved to nursing homes.
“These transfers have greatly assisted hospitals in managing their heavy workloads,” Mr. Ong explained.
On Friday, 120 individuals received their scholarship awards, enabling them to study various subjects in tertiary institutions, including nursing, social work, physiotherapy, diagnostic radiography, and pharmaceutical science.
