The writing has been on the wall for a while now.
An ageing population not only points to an increased demand for healthcare needs, it also means that there will be a greater demand for healthcare professionals in an already competitive talent pool.
To tackle these challenges, Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong announced a strategic three-pronged approach to develop Singapore’s healthcare system to cope with the demands of the future. This took place during the FutureHealth 2017 conference organised by Nanyang Technological University and Centre for Healthcare Innovation on 8 November 2017.
Mr Gan also made mention of the tripartite partners behind these strategies.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the co-chairs Senior Minister of State Mr Chee Hong Tat and Ms Mary Liew, members of the Essential Domestic Services Sub-Committee and the union [Healthcare Services Employees’ Union] for the support and contribution to the Healthcare ITM (Industry Transformation Map) – truly a tripartite effort,” he said.
Three Thrusts
Jobs and Skills
To better support the call for more Singaporeans to embark on fulfilling careers in the healthcare sector, Mr Gan detailed how new training pathways will be available to attract and retain talent.
Skills upgrading was identified as an area of focus for all healthcare workers here in Singapore, with the development of skills frameworks for nurses, pharmacy technicians, support care staff and other healthcare professionals by the end of 2018.
Productivity
From reviewing workflows to redesigning job scopes and using assistive equipment to make work easier, these changes will not only enable healthcare workers to focus on providing the best care they can, but also continue to work longer.
Innovation
New ways of making use of technology will be explored in collaboration with both private and public stakeholders to improve healthcare operations and enhance patient care.
Quotes
“The Healthcare ITM is a perfect example of a tripartite approach to collectively and resolutely resolve manpower shortage and improve productivity through innovation.” – HSEU President K. Thanaletchimi
“With the Healthcare ITM, we can see greater accessibility and affordability within the healthcare system by leveraging technology. A more streamlined healthcare system will also enable the Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors (Singapore) or APACS to benefit from greater awareness and stronger alignment.” – APACS President Abigail Lee. APACS is an NTUC U Associate.
“The Healthcare ITM is a helpful guide for the sector to further develop and position itself to better serve families, particularly in an ageing population where health and care needs are more pronounced. NTUC Health will continue to support jobseekers and mid-career switchers to be trained in caring for seniors and work closely with institutes for higher learning to help students pursue a meaningful career in health and community care through internships. Apart from existing productivity initiatives like adopting LEAN management framework, the Workforce Assignment and Mobility (WAM) system and Telerehabilitation, we will focus on applying innovative technology to better serve our clients more effectively and cost-efficiently.” – NTUC Health CEO Chua Song Khim
To find out more about the Healthcare ITM, click here.
To read about how HSEU has been engaging members, click here.
