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Workload not direct factor of outbreaks in hospitals: MOH

SINGAPORE — Staff workload is not the direct cause of infections and outbreaks in healthcare institutions, according to investigations conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with various hospitals and health professionals. This was stated by Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera.

SINGAPORE — Staff workload is not the direct cause of infections and outbreaks in healthcare institutions, according to investigations conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with various hospitals and health professionals. This was stated by Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera.

The Workers’ Party’s NCMP had asked whether the Health Ministry would consider workload, while not a direct trigger, to be a contributing or underlying factor that would explain incidents such as last year’s hepatitis C outbreak in Singapore General Hospital.

Mr Chee said: “We are doing a very thorough review on how to improve infection control and look at detection and response to outbreaks … Nevertheless, I think improving work environment, making sure our healthcare workers have the support to do their jobs well, is something that the ministry will work closely with our hospitals and unions to improve over the years.”

He also pointed out that Singapore’s doctor-to-population ratio of 21 doctors per 10,000 people is comparable to the ratios of Asian economies such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, which stands at 18 doctors per 10,000 people for both.

In terms of nurse-to-population, Singapore stands at 69 nurses per 10,000 people, comparable to the ratios of Hong Kong and Taiwan at 66 and 60 respectively.

Between 2011 and 2014, the number of registered doctors in Singapore increased from 9,600 to 11,700. The number of registered nurses also increased from 31,700 to 37,600.LOUISA TANG

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