The healthcare industry is one that never rests. Working round-the-clock, healthcare workers operate tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of the patients under their care.
To recognise the efforts of each and every one of this dedicated and committed group of workers, the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HS... marked September 2016 as Healthcarers’ Month.
“It takes many hands in the successful management of a patient … As a union, we thought that it would be good for us to take all this into consideration and appreciate as many people as possible,” said HSEU General Secretary Diana Chia.
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists may immediately come to mind when we think of healthcare workers, but there are also those who play more supportive roles like radiologists, administrative staff and laboratory technicians.
Presently, more than 10 such outreach and engagement activities have been planned by the union’s branches at their premises.
Ms Chia added that it’s a way for the union to say “Thank You” to their 40,000 members, and show their appreciation to all healthcarers, including those who are non-union members.
UNION’S PLAN
As the healthcare sector is regarded as a key area of growth for Singapore, the demand for healthcare workers will continue to rise, and the union hopes to see people and jobs grow in tandem.
“What we want to see is new faces in the industry. At the same time, we want our existing workers, especially the rank-and-file to upgrade. So we need to take a two-pronged approach where we try to attract, retain and grow this group of people. We need to lay out opportunities, firm up directions and consolidate structures that will enable this to happen,” said HSEU President and Labour Nominated Member of Parliament K Thanaletchimi.
Ms Chia added: “It is important for the union to grow together with the industry. We know that there are areas for growth, therefore the union must always be poised to look at the areas that are growing and grow together with them.”
