PROPORTION OF OUTSOURCED HEALTHCARE WORKERS BEING AWARDED COVID-19 RESILIENCE MEDAL

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2448
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 10 JANUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Tan Wu Meng
MP for Jurong GRC

Question No. 5500

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how many and what proportion of outsourced workers serving during the COVID-19 pandemic including cleaners, porters, healthcare attendants and patient care assistants who were (i) deployed to healthcare institutions and (ii) deployed to patient care areas respectively have been awarded the COVID-19 Resilience Medal; and (b) what is the respective number and proportion of non-outsourced workers directly hired by the healthcare institutions that they served at who have been awarded the medal.

Answer

1        My response today will also address the written question filed by Mr Yip Hon Weng[1], on the recognition of healthcare workers for the COVID-19 Resilience Medal (CRM) and the appeal channel.

2        About 91% of 68,600[2] healthcare workers in our public healthcare institutions are recipients of the CRM. The remaining did not receive the CRM mainly because they were not assessed as having contributed substantially or on a sustained basis toward the COVID-19 Pandemic within the specified period of contribution. A very small number were disqualified due to their disciplinary records. Outsourced workers such as cleaners, porters and patient care assistants are also included in the nomination process. About 2,000 of them in our public healthcare institutions are CRM recipients.

3        The list of CRM awardees was published in the Government Gazette on the Prime Minister’s Office website on 31 May 2023. From 31 May 2023 to end August 2023, MOH had received and reviewed numerous appeals for the COVID-19 Resilience Medal from the healthcare sector, and added more awardees to the list.

4        Despite the rigorous nomination process and inclusive approach, it is possible that some employers may have missed out nominating their staff. Individuals who feel they are deserving but have been missed out for the CRM can write to MOH, and we will review their appeals with their employers accordingly.

[1] To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the proportion of healthcare workers working in frontline functions, such as those who had to liaise directly with COVID patients, that did not receive the COVID-19 Resilience Medal; and (b) what is the appeal process for those who did not receive the COVID-19 Resilience Medal but is of the opinion that they should be awarded the medal.

[2] Staff strength of the three healthcare clusters as at 31 May 2022.