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Agence France-Presse

Bloomberg

Singapore will pay nurses a bonus of up to S$100,000 (US$74,500) to encourage them to stay in the public health system as the city state deals with a staff shortage and a rapidly ageing society.
About 29,000 nurses in the publicly funded healthcare system will be eligible under the new retention plan, in which they would receive payouts over a 20-year period, or up to the prevailing retirement age, whichever is earlier, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a speech on Tuesday.
“We want to support our nurses to do a good job,” Ong said.
The benefits are also open to foreign nurses after they have served four years in the country’s public healthcare sector.
Singapore appeals to foreign nurses but lack of residency options a drawback
Ong said Covid-19 had exacerbated the nursing shortage in Singapore, with a higher than usual number of foreign nurses leaving during the pandemic.
Most foreign nurses in Singapore come from neighbouring countries including Malaysia, the Philippines and Myanmar.
Last year, the authorities introduced a sign-on bonus of S$15,000 for fresh nursing graduates who joined public hospitals or clinics.
Ong said intake numbers for nursing students increased by about 30 per cent from 2013 to 2023.

“It is worth pointing out that with falling birth rates, fewer babies, and shrinking student cohorts, just keeping these intakes stable is a very encouraging outcome,” said Ong.
Singapore, like many Asian countries, has been grappling with an ageing population.
The health ministry estimates that one in four Singaporeans will be 65 or older by 2030, while an estimated 83,000 seniors will live alone.
Ong also said the government would be reviewing the competitiveness of other healthcare professions and make adjustments to pay packages as necessary.


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News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Covid-19 exacerbated the nursing shortage in Singapore, with a higher than usual number of foreign nurses leaving during the pandemic, the health minister said
Under the incentive scheme, nurses will be entitled to up to US$74,500 over 20 years, or up to retirement age, whichever comes first


Covid-19 exacerbated the nursing shortage in Singapore, with a higher than usual number of foreign nurses leaving during the pandemic, the health minister said.
