Dr. Lim Suet Wun, Group CEO National Healthcare Group

Chairmen and CEOs of Hospitals

Presidents of Professional Associations

Ladies and gentlemen.

A very good afternoon to all.

I am delighted to open the Healthcare Career Fair 2004. Begun last year, this fair, jointly organised by the Ministry of Health, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and other key players in the healthcare industry, aims to raise awareness about the opportunities for jobs and careers as healthcare professionals. They hope to attract more Singaporeans into this critical and growing sector.

Shortage of Healthcare Workers

2. The last five years have not been easy for job seekers. With globalisation and the entry of skilled workers from China and India, the job market in many countries, including Singapore, were and will continue to be severely impacted. Despite these changes, the healthcare sector offers many jobs for years to come. Singaporeans will do well to look to this sector for fulfilling and dependable life-time career opportunities. Let me give a few reasons why this is so.

3. First, there is a world-wide shortage of healthcare workers. Presently there are over 40,000 healthcare workers in Singapore but we need more. There are currently more than 1,500 vacancies for healthcare workers in the public healthcare sector - 200 vacancies for Nurses and 300 vacancies for Healthcare Assistants in the public healthcare sector alone.

4. Second, these shortages will get worse as demand globally will increase as populations age. Many of us recognise that ageing developed nations such as the US, Europe and Japan will need more healthcare workers. But even China and India will face shortages as their populations become more affluent. As these countries prosper, less nurses from there will come to Singapore and our shortages will get worse.

5. There is stability as professionals who choose careers in the health care industry will be in demand as our own population ages and health needs increase. In 2003, there were 551,300 residents aged 55 years or older in Singapore. In 2015 the corresponding figure will increase to 988,000, or about 30% of the population aged 15 and above. So unlike other industries where demands fluctuate, a nurse, radiographer, physiotherapist can probably stay within the same industry until retirement, if he or she chooses.

6. The third reason why the health-care industry is appealing is that the image of their workers has improved. SARS etched into our national psyche the nobility of attendants, nurses, para-medical technicians and doctors who, without regard to personal danger, gave sacrificial service to protect us. I can sense this respect in my daily interactions with grass-root members. During and after SARS, I asked the ITE and Polytechnic principals if their nursing students had opted out or recruitment dropped. On the contrary, students in the nursing course strengthen their resolve to stay in this profession that could make a difference to the lives of others. Applications into the nursing courses last July after SARS went up, not down. For example, the number of applicants for NYP’s nursing courses rose 69% from 2002 to 1,997 in 2003.

Initiatives to attract more Singaporeans into the Nursing Profession

7. Let me speak on the specific professions we need within the health care industry. First, nurses. MOH and WDA are gearing up our efforts to attract more Singaporeans into the profession by enlarging the training capacity and expanding place and train programmes for nurses.

Increased Intake Targets

8. MOH has estimated that Singapore needs to train about 1,400 nurses each year. The intake targets for the nursing courses in Nanyang Polytechnic and the Institute of Technical Education have been increased from about 700 in 2000 to more than 1000 in 2004. This is an increase of more than 40% over 4 years. We are also pleased that interest among Singaporeans for nursing jobs has been growing. In 2002, the local nursing courses had a total intake of 896, compared to an intake target of 820; and in 2003, the intake was 1,092 compared to the target of 940, while the quality of students has also improved. But despite this ramp-up of fresh entrants, we still face shortages.

Mid Career Entry

9. Thus we are tapping on opportunities for those who want a mid-career switch from other non-health care sectors. MOH and WDA have also partnered Nanyang Polytechnic to develop the Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme (Healthcare), which was launched last year. The SMCP programme provides these trainees with full sponsorship of the course fees to acquire the necessary skills and know-how, and a monthly training allowance.

10. It’s a daunting challenge but others have shown that it can be done. 101 future nurses are currently being trained under the SMCP programme. I have been impressed by the quality and commitment of these trainees. Even though the first intake commenced in April 2003, during the height of SARS in Singapore, all the trainees courageously continued with the course. We look forward to them joining the nursing profession next year when they graduate. Among the trainees who made a career switch were a bank officer, an architect, and senior designer. About half of the trainees were degree holders and even MBA holders.

11. We hope to increase the intake for mid-career Singaporeans at this career fair because the quality of mid-career applicants has been so good. I believe they will make wonderful health care professionals because they are choosing this career for the right reasons. Ms. Vasanthi Velu is one such individual. When her son fell critically ill, the support of the nurses and medical staff at the hospital had helped her pull through the ordeal. Because of this incident, Vasanthi decided to become a nurse so that she could in turn help others. However, at the age of 31 with no prior healthcare experience, and working as a former Assistant Prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Chambers, many in a similar position would have been put off. It was the SMCP programme that enabled her to make the smooth transition into the nursing profession. Vasanthi will be joining the Institute of Mental Health in October 2005 when she graduates. She knows that when she returns to IMH, her years of previous work experience will be appreciated and recognised by her employer. In fact, hospital employers have been increasingly keen to employ mid-career nurses who are mature and highly motivated.

Return to Nursing

12. The third avenue to increase the local supply of nurses is to attract nurses who have stopped working to return to nursing. The two healthcare clusters hope to attract at least 50 former nurses to return to nursing. To ease their re-entry into the profession, MOH and WDA have set up 2-3 month refresher courses at the National Heart Centre. These courses are funded under the Skills Redevelopment Programme. Former nurses need to pay only a nominal amount for training. Former nurses who are keen to re-enter the healthcare sector can contact the Nursing Department of the National Heart Centre.

13. All of us recognise that nurses play a crucial role in the recovery of individual patients. Their role, if enhanced, can significantly improve clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs. To enhance their impact and professionalism of nursing, MOH intends to review their job scope, define clear career paths and specialist tracks, and study the proposal of a nursing degree programme in the NUS-Outram Campus.

Other Healthcare Professions

14. Let me move on to other healthcare professions that are in demand. These include the Healthcare Assistants and Health Science Professions, such as diagnostic radiographers, radiation therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists and biomedical technicians.

15. Surveys conducted with Junior College students have shown that many are not aware of these professions or have misconceptions about what they do. MOH is working to raise the awareness of the professions in the schools, including school talks and hospital visits to allow students to have first-hand accounts and experience of these professions. Singaporeans must understand that modern health care delivery involves an orchestra of different players, each with individual specialist abilities. From the technicians who perform the ECG or the laboratory tests, the nurses and therapists who spend months rehabilitating patients; the radiographers, pharmacists and the doctor who diagnoses and prescribes treatment – each must be competent for you to get well. Each must excel if we are to be a renowned and trusted medical hub.

16. The WDA will support training programmes to help Singaporeans interested to work in these other healthcare professions. For example, we helped both the National Heart Centre and HMI-Institute of Health Sciences to introduce training programmes to train healthcare assistants. Trainees would receive funding for course fees and obtain a training allowance.

Conclusion

17. I understand that the organisers have brought together representatives from the healthcare clusters, community hospitals, the various nursing training institutions, and the professional associations at the fair today. I encourage those interested to use this opportunity to find out more from the professionals themselves.

18. I do not want the give the wrong impression that anyone can succeed as a health care professional. I want to caution that the training is rigorous and commitment to the profession is essential. You must be prepared to work hard and know how to handle patients and their relatives, with varying needs and temperaments. If you are a life-long learner and have qualities of dedication, diligence, empathy and communication skills, then a satisfying career awaits you in the health care industry.

19. It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare the Healthcare Career Fair 2004 open.