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Community care sector gets S$12m boost to attract talent

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) will invest close to S$12 million over the next four years to attract more new entrants to join the community care sector, and support current staff in developing their careers, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday.

Many health professionals believe that hospitals and other healthcare institutions are the main generators and amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance. TODAY file photo

Many health professionals believe that hospitals and other healthcare institutions are the main generators and amplifiers of antimicrobial resistance. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) will invest close to S$12 million over the next four years to attract more new entrants to join the community care sector, and support current staff in developing their careers, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor yesterday.

The funds will be used for a scholarship scheme, the Community Care Manpower Development Award (CCMDA), that is administered by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). The CCMDA, which was rolled out in April, brings together four existing scholarships offered by the agency.

For new entrants to the sector, they can apply for the CCMDA to develop a career in a wider range of healthcare disciplines, including social work, speech therapy and healthcare and therapy support. Previously, only those looking to join the sector in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nursing could apply for an AIC scholarship.

For current staff, in addition to degree and post-graduate programmes, the award will now also cover entry-level certificates, including courses related to corporate functions.

The award has been extended to staff from all community care organisations, including private community care service providers.

“With an ageing population, Singapore needs to build a strong community care system so that we can provide good care and support to our growing population of seniors,” said Dr Khor, who was speaking at the Community Care Manpower Development Awards ceremony held at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. In the past few years, the MOH “has invested consistently in enhancing the capacity, affordability and quality of aged care services”. It has “worked hand in hand with primary care and aged care providers to build a robust and comprehensive community care system”, Dr Khor added.

To grow the “Singaporean core” in the sector, the MOH has been working with the AIC to attract more jobseekers.

Since 2015, the AIC, in partnership with other agencies, has organised recruitment fairs to highlight community care jobs.

Such recruitment efforts have resulted in more than 450 locals successfully finding jobs in the sector over the past year, said Dr Khor.

More than 100 people received their awards from Dr Khor during the ceremony. They included the first batch of 33 CCMDA recipients.

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