Singapore – Former Straits Times editor Bertha Henson took to Facebook to comment on the recently announced cash award to be extended to eligible healthcare workers.
On Friday (Nov 5), the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced a Covid-19 Healthcare Award of up to S$4,000 to be given to the staff of publicly-funded healthcare organisations.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to our healthcare workers,” wrote Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Facebook.
“You do your best every day – to care for every patient and save every life. You provide the first line of care and stand as our last line of defence in our fight against Covid-19.”
MOH noted that the healthcare system and healthcare staff have been under significant strain after over 20 months of fighting the pandemic.
“As various sectors begin to resume their full operations and with society progressively restarting more activities, the healthcare sector continues to face intense pressure as the last line of defence.”
The award aims to recognise the contribution and dedication of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 fight.
The government has worked with public healthcare institutions to provide their staff with an award of up to S$4,000 each.
“Altogether, about 100,000 staff from eligible publicly-funded healthcare organisations will receive the award, including staff from the public healthcare clusters – National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, and SingHealth,” said MOH.
In response to the initiative, Prof Henson raised questions on the award, noting she “never liked the use of money from the State as a kind of incentive or reward because it leads to expectations and envy on the part of the population.”
“It’s symptomatic of the materialistic society we are breeding. People always ask for more or think they should be entitled to it too,” she said.
She initially asked “why” on Saturday (Nov 6), adding, “because teachers getting sabbaticals?”
“And what is the total disbursement, and where is the money coming from? What’s the bet that others will say they deserve it too?” Prof Henson asked.
In a follow-up post, she noted that if the incentive was supposed to slow down resignation rate, “then all I can say is the MOH was caught flat-footed.”
“A question asked in April painted a half-picture of resignations in 2019 and 2020 – very nice numbers. But nothing about the first three months. And then we’re suddenly told of the resignations like MOH was surprised. So we are throwing money at them because we didn’t see the signs earlier? Or maybe we think most of them are foreigners, so can work them to the bone,” she asked.
Prof Henson highlighted that people are out of work or struggling with their businesses.
“Wouldn’t it be better if perks are given in terms of healthcare benefits that healthcare workers get? We know they are called to do dangerous jobs at times, and no one would begrudge them better or cheaper care. But giving out cash?”
Although she expressed gratitude that the country could afford the latest financial assistance, Prof Henson noted that “we should be careful about our pool of money.”
“In this case, it’s totally remiss not to say how much this will cost taxpayers in all.”
In its statement, MOH added that the award would be extended to publicly-funded Community Care Organisations (CCOs) that provide healthcare services, including community hospitals that take in COVID-19 patients and nursing homes and dialysis centres that assist in freeing up hospital beds.
MOH will also extend a grant of S$10,000 to each Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) to recognise their contributions in the fight against Covid-19.
The award will be given to the staff of the public healthcare institutions in December, while PHPCs and eligible staff of COOs will receive theirs in the first quarter of 2022./TISG
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