Update on Implementation of Recommendations by National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns updates on recommendations by the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors regarding wellness leadership, the Hospital Clinician (HC) Scheme, and work hour improvements. Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Janil Puthucheary stated that all healthcare clusters have appointed Chief Wellness Officers and hospitals have designated wellness officers to support staff welfare. The HC Scheme is now active in all public hospitals with approximately 100 doctors, featuring refinements that allow earlier entry and career track flexibility. To address work hours, nearly half of clinical departments have implemented shift rosters or capped continuous duty at 24 hours. These practices will be extended to more departments progressively as the medical workforce expands.
Transcript
8 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health (a) whether he can provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations by the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors, including the (i) appointment of Chief Wellness Officers (ii) Hospital Clinician Scheme and (iii) Clusters pilot; and (b) what specific improvements have been seen in the work hours of junior doctors as a result of these recommendations.
The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Janil Puthucheary) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, you are very optimistic. Mr Louis Ng has squeezed four substantive issues into one very long sentence. [Laughter.]
Since our last update in Parliament in May 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has made progress in implementing the recommendations of the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors. Each of our healthcare clusters has appointed Chief Wellness Officers. Our public hospitals have also designated wellness officers to better understand the concerns of their healthcare staff as well as to support their welfare and well-being.
Sir, the Hospital Clinician (HC) Scheme has been rolled out in all our public hospitals. Currently, around 100 doctors have either enrolled in or been appointed to the HC scheme. These HCs will work alongside family physicians and specialists to deliver team-based care. Where appropriate, HCs may lead healthcare teams and be responsible for the care of patients under their charge. Since its introduction in 2020, we have refined the scheme to enable junior doctors to join earlier in their careers. Doctors now also have the flexibility to switch into the HC career pathway from other medical career tracks.
In collaboration with our healthcare clusters, MOH has implemented pilots aimed at improving the work hours of our junior doctors. Through these pilots, we hope to identify best practices to share across our hospitals. To date, close to half of all clinical departments with junior doctors have implemented shift rosters or have limited their doctors to working no more than 24 hours continuously. This practice will be extended to more departments progressively as we expand our medical workforce.
11.30 am
Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Order of the day.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]