Expansion of Target Medical and Nursing Intakes

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Health (a) what plans are there to expand the target medical and nursing intakes beyond the current 500 and 2,750 respectively; (b) what are the constraints to expanding the target intakes; and (c) what steps can be taken to overcome these constraints.

MOH regularly reviews Singapore's healthcare manpower needs taking into account changes in population demographics and disease trends. The Ministry then works with MOE to make the appropriate adjustments to our local healthcare training pipelines.

We have increased medical intakes by 80% over the past 10 years, from 230 in 2003 to 413 in 2013, through the expansion of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine's medical intake, the establishment of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in 2007 and the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in 2013. The local medical intake is projected to grow to 500 doctors annually.

Likewise, we have increased the nursing intake by 40% from 1,202 in 2003 to 1,682 students in 2013, through expanding intakes at the Institute of Technical Education and the Polytechnics as well as the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) course at NUS from 2006. We will further increase the nursing intake to 2,750.

We will continue to monitor and take into account demographic trends and changes in our healthcare needs in our manpower projection. In parallel, we are working to enhance the attractiveness of healthcare careers by enhancing professional development, career advancement, remuneration, recognition and staff well-being. This is further supported by increased branding and outreach efforts to attract more young Singaporeans to join this meaningful and rewarding sector.

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