UPDATE ON NATIONAL WELLNESS COMMITTEE FOR JUNIOR DOCTORS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3486

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 4 MARCH 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 7293

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether he can provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations by the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors, including the (i) appointment of Chief Wellness Officers (ii) Hospital Clinician Scheme and (iii) Clusters pilot; and (b) what specific improvements have been seen in the work hours of juniors doctors as a result of these recommendations.

Answer

1 Sir, since our last update in Parliament in May 2024, the Ministry of Health has made progress in implementing the recommendations of the National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors. Each of our healthcare clusters has appointed Chief Wellness Officers. Our public hospitals have also designated wellness officers to better understand the concerns of their healthcare staff as well as to support their welfare and well-being.

2 Sir, the Hospital Clinician (HC) Scheme has been rolled out in all our public hospitals. Currently, around 100 doctors have either enrolled in or been appointed to the HC scheme. These HCs will work alongside Family Physicians and Specialists to deliver team-based care. Where appropriate, HCs may lead healthcare teams and be responsible for the care of patients under their charge. Since its introduction in 2020, we have refined the scheme to enable junior doctors to join earlier in their careers. Doctors now also have the flexibility to switch into the HC career pathway from other medical career tracks.

3 In collaboration with our healthcare clusters, MOH has implemented pilots aimed at improving the work hours of our junior doctors. Through these pilots, we hope to identify best practices to share across our hospitals. To date, close to half of all clinical departments with junior doctors have implemented shift rosters or have limited their doctors to working no more than 24 hours continuously. This practice will be extended to more departments progressively as we expand our medical workforce.