Singapore Encourages Mid-Career Shift To Increase Number Of Healthcare Workers

Singapore City, Singapore (AHN) - Singapore is encouraging professionals to make a mid-career shift by enrolling in occupational therapy and physical therapy courses to build up the number of healthcare workers in the tiny nation. The policy shift anticipates the rise in number of aging Singaporeans and the arrival of foreign tourists seeking medical treatment.

Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen announced Friday that by April 2008 Singapore's Nanyang Polytechnic will admit a total of 80 physical therapy students and 60 occupational therapy enrollees, up from this year's enrollment figure of 50 each for both courses.

Ng also proposed to the Professionals Conversion Program at a three-day breast cancer conference to establish a university faculty to train more allied health workers.

Singapore has only 450 registered physiotherapists and 250 occupational therapists. The government foresees it will need more healthcare workers since by 2030, one out of every four Singaporeans will be over 65, while the country's health care bill will eat up 8 percent of its gross domestic product, up from the present 4 percent.

Singapore has a mandatory health care savings system since the 1980s. Under the system, 6 percent to 8 percent of an employee's wages are withheld and remitted into a Medisave account.

At the time the system was put in place, it required residents below 55 to save up to $14,450 (21,000 Singapore dollar). Current medical bills of the saver and his family are charged against the account. When the employee reaches 55, he must keep a minimum $11,012 (16,000 Singapore dollar) balance on his Medisave account for use during his retirement years.