TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Singapore will provide incentives of S$ 4,000 or around Rp. 42 million to health workers for their struggle to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The incentive payments were announced by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday.
The award also goes to staff in community care organizations that provide front-line services, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers.
“These organizations have become an integral part of the fight against Covid-19, along with public health institutions,” he added.
Awards will be given to 100,000 staff members from eligible healthcare organizations. “This serves as an acknowledgment of the contribution and dedication of the health staff during this struggle,” the Health Ministry said.
The ministry will also provide a grant of S$10,000 for each Public Health Preparedness Clinic in recognition of their contribution in fighting COVID-19.
Speaking at the National Medical Excellence Awards on Friday, Ong said the award was the government’s appreciation for health workers. “For your contribution in this very extraordinary year,” he said.
The incentives will be received by health workers in December. While the Public Health Preparedness Clinic and qualified community care staff will receive it in the first quarter of 2022.
“The health care system and healthcare staff are under significant pressure after more than 20 months of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” the MOH said.
Singapore announced its first COVID-19 case on January 23 last year. Most health workers have not taken time off during the pandemic.
Ong said the Ministry of Health had started registering health workers so they could take leave by the end of the year. The ministry last month lifted the suspension of overseas leave for health workers.
Case Covid-19 in Singapore is still high with an average of 3,000 per day. Health workers also work under pressure to the point that many resign.
Most of the health workers who withdrew were foreigners who returned to their home countries. During the first semester of 2021, the number of workers who resigned was 1,500 people. This figure is higher than before the pandemic, which was 2,000 people per year.
Read: Corona in Singapore is getting fiercer, many health workers are resigning
CHANNEL NEWS ASIA
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