Measures to Alleviate Healthcare Manpower Crunch from Recent Surge of COVID-19 Omicron Variant Cases and Resignation Rates of Healthcare Workers in 2021

43 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health with the recent surge in cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and the resignation rates of healthcare workers going up last year, whether the Ministry will consider drawing healthcare resources from across the Public Service, including MINDEF and SCDF, to alleviate the healthcare manpower crunch.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: MOH has tapped on the SAF and Public Service, as well as private sector resources, in the national effort against the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, during the surge in COVID-19 cases at the end of last year, public healthcare workers from Woodlands Health, medical officers and medics from the SAF medical corps, and nurses and dental therapists from the Health Promotion Board (HPB) jointly ran a COVID-19 Treatment Facility (CTF). Private healthcare workers have also helped us on our vaccination drive, and management of cases at GPs and in the CTFs.

We thank all our partnering organisations for working closely with us.

Our healthcare officers have been under immense stress for the past two years. These contributions and staff expertise have been an invaluable help.