Health Ministry to expand nursing programme to boost healthcare sector

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health plans to expand the annual intake for nursing and encourage more mid—career conversions to build up manpower in the healthcare sector.

The move comes as the government plans to build 105 eldercare facilities over the next four years.

The Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Mdm Halimah Yacob, said the government will also work with eldercare service providers to raise productivity through initiatives such as bulk procurement, process redesign and use of technology.

And for facilities such as Senior Activity Centres, the government will also explore reducing the demand for full—time workers by encouraging retirees and homemakers to work part—time as Home Visit Assistants.

"We intend to enlarge the scope of work of the Senior Care Associates through skills upgrading so they can do a lot more work after the skills upgrading, through WSQ. Secondly, we intend to deploy the use of more technology, assisted technology. That also reduces the tedium, the menial part of the work with taking care of the elderly," she said.

— CNA/de