Singapore has gained a major international reputation for modern hospitals and a superb health care system and medical services. Unfortunately, the country is grappling with a serious dilemma: a shortage of health care workers. This is proving to be damaging to hospitals and clinics, as well as the economy of Singapore.
At Dynamic Health Staff, we believe health care professionals are the backbone of any nation’s well-being. Let’s examine how the shortage developed, its impact on the economy, and the role of international recruitment to assist Singapore with this crisis.
Factors Leading to Health Care Worker Shortages in Singapore
There are many factors leading to a shortage in recent years, for the following reasons:
Ageing population – Singapore’s population is ageing, with less than one in four residents over age 65 in 2030. An ageing population results in a greater demand for medical care and long-term services, which will drive the demand for nurses, personal support workers, and other health care workers.
Inadequate local workforce-While Singapore continues to prepare candidates for careers as local nurses and health personnel, local talent is unable to meet the growing needs. This unfulfilled need creates an increased urge to procure overseas health staff.
Global talent competition-Other developed countries, such as the UK, Canada, and Australia, are also experiencing similar shortages and recruiting abroad. The competition makes it more difficult for Singapore to attract and maintain credentialed workers.
Economic implications of a shortage
The healthcare worker shortage impacts more than just hospitals and has widespread implications for Singapore’s economy.
Increasing healthcare costs: When hospitals have fewer or no staff, they pay higher salaries or overtime bonuses for nurses, and the costs of utilising a locum increase. These costs combine to increase the average cost of care to the patient and/or health system.
Decreased productivity: A healthy citizenry is a strong economy. If healthcare delivery systems are overwhelmed and therefore operating more slowly, patients will wait longer for care and take longer to recuperate. This leads to decreased productivity and economic loss.
Pressure on government spending: To address challenges in the healthcare workforce, the government will need to increase spending on healthcare infrastructure, staff training, and hiring. However, this spending would take away from investment elsewhere, e.g., in education, innovation, or transport.
Implications for medical tourism: As a leading destination for medical tourism, Singapore may face challenges in retaining this industry as the availability of healthcare professionals diminishes.
If fewer healthcare professionals are available, the quality and timeliness of care may decline. As a result, fewer foreign patients would seek treatment in Singapore, and the nation may suffer lost revenues associated with medical tourism.
How International Recruitment Can Help
An immediate solution to fill the void in the healthcare profession is to recruit from abroad. For example, Singapore can grow the number of healthcare professionals from India, the Philippines, and Malaysia – countries with many skilled and experienced healthcare workers who can be hired.
Dynamic Health Staff specialises in healthcare recruitment globally, linking Singapore with the local workforce and healthcare professionals from India. We recruit and place qualified healthcare professionals within the highest quality healthcare systems in Singapore. Every candidate we recruit and place undergoes a thorough screening and training program, ensuring that they arrive in Singapore medically certified and employed in the fast-paced healthcare system.
We work through each step of the recruitment process, from screening, training, and documentation to relocation and licensing, allowing our clients to concentrate on caring for their patients.
A Healthier Future for Singapore
The shortfall of healthcare workers is not something that will quickly remedy itself and is a longer-term challenge requiring strategic initiatives. By attracting international healthcare further into the fold, Singapore can beef up its healthcare delivery workforce, support its pensionable population, and enhance its status as a global healthcare centre.
At Dynamic Health Staff, we are happy to help address the workforce gap. We work directly with Indian nurses and other healthcare workers and create direct pathways to Singapore’s hospitals that require their services and expertise. We are committed to a win-win initiative, better opportunities for the healthcare workers, and better healthcare delivery for our patients.
Start Hiring Today
If you are a hospital, clinic, or healthcare employer that wants to hire qualified nurses, doctors, or allied health professionals from India. In that case, Dynamic Health Staff will connect you to prospective healthcare applicants promptly and quickly. Email us at healthcare@dynamichealthstaff.com or visit us at www.dynamichealthstaff.com to apply today. Let’s foster a healthy Singapore together.
