Debated in Parliament on 27 Feb 2024.
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the target number of students expected to be trained through the new Master of Science in Holistic Palliative Care programme; (b) what employment opportunities and career progression in our public healthcare system are available for graduates; and (c) what other initiatives is the Ministry undertaking to broaden and improve palliative care education for healthcare professionals.
Mr Speaker, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) anticipates an initial enrolment of about 15 students for the new Master of Science in Holistic Palliative Care programme (MSc HoPE). Graduates can be employed in healthcare institutions and community care organisations that provide patients with end-of-life support.
Workforce training and development is a key enabler to the Ministry of Health's national palliative care strategy. Healthcare professionals are equipped with knowledge on palliative care in two ways. First, palliative care has been integrated into the local undergraduate training curriculum for medicine, nursing, pharmacy and various allied health disciplines. Second, postgraduate training programmes in palliative care are offered by the Agency of Integrated Care's Learning Network, healthcare organisations and Institutes of Higher Learning. Healthcare professionals can tap on training grants and scholarships when they attend such programmes.
Mr Yip, a short supplementary question, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for her response. Just a very short supplementary question. What alternative pathways or continuing education programmes are being considered to equip existing healthcare professionals with palliative skills?
And a short response, please, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu.
Thank you for the question. As I mentioned earlier, there are already existing frameworks and specialisations that the healthcare workers can go into. In particular, for example, in nursing, they have the specialisation on the Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care). So, these are some of the examples which healthcare workers who are interested in these, can pivot into and learn more about in the palliative care sector.
Order. End of Question Time. The Clerk will now proceed to read the Order of the Day.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]
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