With the number of elderly Singaporeans on the rise, a system to care for the aged is set to become a critical part of the nation's healthcare landscape.
The new initiative to prevent illnesses and keep citizens healthy is a move in that direction, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told Parliament on Wednesday.
One key challenge is to find enough foreign nurses to supplement local ones to care for the elderly.
Mr. Ong said nurses, allied health professionals, and support care staff are needed to operate hospitals, clinics, and also eldercare centres.
"They number 58,000 now and MOH (Ministry of Health) estimates that this will need to grow to 82,000 by 2030," he added.
He also pointed out that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above, up from one in six today.
In his closing speech on the debate on the Healthier SG White Paper, Mr. Ong underlined the need to prepare for a rapidly ageing population and also the urgency to attract foreign nurses.
He said Singapore's healthcare system is not one system but three interconnected systems working together to deliver good health.
This story is from the October 06, 2022 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the October 06, 2022 edition of The Straits Times.
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