Debated in Parliament on 10 Jan 2024.
Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health (a) how many and what proportion of outsourced workers serving during the COVID-19 pandemic including cleaners, porters, healthcare attendants and patient care assistants who were (i) deployed to healthcare institutions and (ii) deployed to patient care areas respectively have been awarded the COVID-19 Resilience Medal; and (b) what is the respective number and proportion of non-outsourced workers directly hired by the healthcare institutions that they served at who have been awarded the medal.
My response today will also address the written question filed by Mr Yip Hon Weng, on the recognition of healthcare workers for the COVID-19 Resilience Medal (CRM) and the appeal channel.
About 91% of 68,6001 healthcare workers in our public healthcare institutions are recipients of the CRM. The remaining did not receive the CRM mainly because they were not assessed as having contributed substantially or on a sustained basis toward the COVID-19 Pandemic within the specified period of contribution. A very small number were disqualified due to their disciplinary records.
Outsourced workers such as cleaners, porters and patient care assistants are also included in the nomination process. About 2,000 of them in our public healthcare institutions are CRM recipients.
The list of CRM awardees was published in the Government Gazette on the Prime Minister’s Office website on 31 May 2023. From 31 May 2023 to end August 2023, the Ministry of Health (MOH) had received and reviewed numerous appeals for the COVID-19 Resilience Medal from the healthcare sector, and added more awardees to the list.
Despite the rigorous nomination process and inclusive approach, it is possible that some employers may have missed out nominating their staff. Individuals who feel they are deserving but have been missed out for the CRM can write to MOH, and we will review their appeals with their employers accordingly.
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