Around 1,200 foreign healthcare workers granted PR status annually over last five years

[The_King]

SINGAPORE: Around 1,200 foreign healthcare workers were granted permanent resident (PR) status on average each year over the past five years, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (Jul 3).

More than six in 10 were nurses, while the remainder included doctors, allied health professionals and other healthcare workers, he said in a written answer to a parliamentary question.

Mr Ong was responding to a question from Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng (PAP-Jurong) who had asked how many foreign healthcare workers have been granted Singapore PR status, and whether those foreign healthcare workers who have stood by Singapore and Singaporeans during the COVID-19 pandemic can be granted PR status more expeditiously.

More foreign nurses were granted PR status in the past year "in recognition of the essential role they played in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic" and in supporting Singapore’s growing healthcare needs, said Mr Ong.

Singapore's healthcare workforce comprises a sizeable majority of Singaporeans, and foreign manpower from many countries, he said, adding that "they serve patients alongside each other, and go through crisis together".

“Foreign healthcare workers are an integral part of our healthcare system, and for those who become valued members of our healthcare community and demonstrate commitment to Singapore, we have been and are prepared to grant them PR status."

In recent years, global competition for healthcare workers has intensified, especially for nurses, in the face of a worldwide nursing shortage and a rising demand for care.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam said in March this year that while the attrition rate for local nurses has remained stable from 2019 to 2022, the attrition rate for foreign nurses spiked from 9.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent over the same period.

She noted that the loss of both local and foreign nurses to competitor countries is a key reason for the stress and high workload for the nurses, adding that Singapore needed to "replace the manpower lost to other countries, safeguard the welfare of nurses, and meet increasing needs".

Mr Ong said in November last year that close to 4,000 new nurses will be progressively brought on board by the end of 2023 to replace those "lost" to other countries and to expand the Singapore workforce.

Mr Ong said the new nurses would make up about 10 per cent of Singapore's nursing workforce.

Source: CNA/ec(rj)

[Nemesis Alien]

[chamfer]

No wonder i see more pinoys around in my area. Saw quite a few is working in healthcare. Now slowly see a few burmese nurses in my area too.

[Bigbird]

Sinkies just have to get use to it!

 

Its been going on since 2006...

 

Got rumor saying  PR can buy HDB leh!

[DynamiteZerg]

Many use SG as stepping stone...