Number and Ratio of Medical Social Workers and AIC Care Co-ordinators to Population of Care Recipients over Age 65

13 Ms Anthea Ong asked the Minister for Health what is the current number of (i) medical social workers and (ii) AIC care co-ordinators, and their respective ratios to the population of care recipients over the age of 65 years.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Based on data reported by healthcare providers, there were about 600 Medical Social Workers (MSWs) working in the public healthcare and community care sectors¹ in 2018. Within the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), there are about 110 staff coordinating care for care recipients and their caregivers in hospitals and in the community, and helping them with information and referral to the various services and support programmes.

The ratio of MSWs and AIC staff numbers to the population of care recipients over the age of 65 years may not be meaningful as they work together to support care recipients across all age groups, and not just care recipients over the age of 65 years. They also work with other community partners to coordinate care and support for seniors.