Nursing in high demand globally; Singapore facing acute shortage
SINGAPORE: Singapore hospitals and clinics are so desperate for nurses that at least one private hospital group is offering a “finder’s fee” of 12,000 Singapore dollars (USD 8,760) for staff to help recruit an experienced nurse.
Even a fresh graduate nurse joining the hospital can bring the introducer a windfall of at least 3,600 Singapore dollars (USD 2,630) at the group, according to a media report on Thursday.
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the shortage of nurses, as the need for them grows even as more of them quit their jobs.
A private hospital administrator, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Nursing is in high demand everywhere.”
“Foreign nurses use Singapore as a jumping board for better jobs in countries like Canada, since there is little chance of their getting permanent residency in Singapore. There’s no future for them here,” the administrator was quoted as saying.
Last year, for the first time in more than two decades, Singapore experienced a drop in the number of nurses working here. The situation is even worse this year.
Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary told Parliament earlier this month: “About 1,500 healthcare workers have resigned in the first half of 2021, compared to about 2,000 annually pre-pandemic.”
“Close to 500 foreign doctors and nurses have resigned in the first half of 2021, as compared to around 500 in the whole of 2020,” Puthucheary was quoted as saying.
Associate Professor Yong Keng Kwang, group chief nurse of the National Healthcare Group (NHG) told, “The evolving COVID-19 situation is one of the main difficulties we face. A spike in cases potentially raises the demand for healthcare services and manpower, and the shortfall in manpower is acutely felt when staff resign.”
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) says it has to close four general ward beds in order to provide the manpower needed for one intensive care unit (ICU) bed.
Prof Yong said the cluster is working with the Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH) “to expand and diversify our recruitment options”, such as looking at non-traditional sources for nurses willing to work here.