Preserving Experience of Senior Healthcare Workers

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Health (a) what are the Ministry's plans to preserve the wealth of experience of senior healthcare workers who wish to continue contributing meaningfully in roles that are less physically demanding; and (b) apart from job redesign and the use of assistive technology, what additional measures is the Ministry considering to tap into the expertise of such healthcare workers.

We value the contribution of senior healthcare workers and want them to contribute as long as possible. Many of our senior healthcare workers may also be seasoned healthcare professionals who continue to contribute meaningfully by grooming the next generation through mentorship and education.

We do this by working with our public healthcare clusters to support upskilling and reskilling efforts; redesigning jobs to make them less physically demanding; deploying assistive technology; and reassigning the senior workers to new roles where possible and accepted. As a standard practice, clusters will re-employ healthcare workers beyond the statutory retirement age of 63 and extend beyond if the healthcare workers are willing.

For those who have retired, we also hope that they consider volunteering in healthcare roles. The healthcare clusters have extensive volunteer programmes ranging from care-related duties in the wards to community engagement roles that are not physically demanding. They may also take up volunteer roles in the community care sector, such as at nursing homes, Active Ageing Centres (AACs) or with home care services, where they can support other seniors.