SINGAPORE — When deciding who were to get the Covid-19 Resilience Medal, the Ministry of Health (MOH) sought to be as inclusive as possible, while ensuring that standards were met and that the process was rigorous.

In doing so, MOH acknowledged on Wednesday (Dec 20) that not everyone who contributed to Singapore's fight against the infectious disease were awarded the medal.

"That is why we always emphasise that awards to leaders and organisations are always received for everyone who worked in the teams," it said, adding that it was a "whole-of-society" effort that allowed the country to emerge stronger from the pandemic.

The ministry was responding to TODAY's queries after an anonymous group of healthcare workers penned an open letter addressed to it, as well as Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, about why many frontliners in Singapore's fight against the crisis were excluded from the award.

The letter, which was published by Instagram account "@thehonesthealthcareworker" on Monday, also urged MOH to clarify the nomination process for the awards.

More than 110,000 people have been awarded Covid-19 Resilience Medals, which honour individuals and teams who have made substantive contributions to Singapore's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The medals were given out during a carnival event at the F1 Pit Building from Dec 10 to 14.

One of the healthcare workers who runs the Instagram account told TODAY that the group penned the letter after more than 100 frontline workers — including nurses, doctors, swabbers and social workers — contacted them about being left out of the awards.

The letter stated: "We were providing direct care together on the front when Covid first hit us till it became endemic. We were here. How is it that we were forgotten?

"We know in our hearts that we did our part... All we wish for is to be recognised and remembered for the sacrifices we made... so that our children will find our names when they look back one day and know that we served our country and did our duty when Singapore needed us most."

'MUST HAVE CONSISTENTLY MANAGED EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH WORKLOAD'

In its response to TODAY's queries, MOH said that it took an approach to be as inclusive as possible when conferring the Covid-19 Resilience Medals while maintaining a rigorous nomination process.

There were no quotas set on the number of people who received the award.

"Naturally, eligible criteria would need to be set," it added.

To qualify for the award, individuals must have, on a sustained basis during the pandemic, managed the public health crisis at the frontlines, supported frontline operations such as vaccination, testing, managing dormitories or recovery facilities, or managed the consequences of Covid-19 on Singapore’s economy, supply chains or social cohesion, MOH said.

Public and private healthcare institutions as well as relevant industry partners were asked to submit their nominations from October last year to March this year to MOH.

"The nominating institution or agency must assess that the awardees had consistently managed exceptionally high workload due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with justification required for each nominee," MOH said.

On May 31, the list of awardees was published in the Government Gazette and on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website. 

Between then and end-August, MOH added more awardees from the healthcare sector following their appeals for the Covid-19 Resilience Medal, "in the spirit of being inclusive".

MOH did not mention how many more awardees were added during this stage.

It added that those who have yet to collect their medals, including former employees, will be contacted by their respective healthcare institutions and agencies to arrange for direct collection from these institutions.

MOH then stated on Thursday that it wanted to put on record its thanks to all who have made contributions and sacrifices to keep Singapore safe.

"It was indeed a whole-of-society effort that has enabled Singapore to emerge stronger from the pandemic." 

MINISTRY INVITES ANONYMOUS GROUP TO COME FORWARD

On Dec 22, the anonymous collective posted another response to MOH's reply, stating that it disagreed that the process used by the ministry in conferring the awards was rigorous.

Giving the example of Dr Sanjeev Shankar, a former accident and emergency specialist at Sengkang General Hospital, the group said there were "hundreds" of healthcare workers who were left out in the nomination exercise.

"We humbly ask that the ministry create a channel to let all forgotten (healthcare workers) come forward to be rightfully recognised," said the Instagram account, noting in its post that Dr Shankar had also written to the PMO to inquire why he was ineligible for the Covid-19 Resilience Medal.

Speaking at the opening of the Woodlands Health hospital later that evening, Health Minister Ong acknowledged that there were individual doctors and nurses who reached out about why they were left out despite having contributed to Singapore's pandemic response.

"We will look into these cases. As you know, we try to be as inclusive as possible in recognising this national effort and everyone involved in this national effort. Over 110,000 recipients – that is how inclusive we have been," he said.

Reiterating MOH's nomination process and the subsequent appeals to include as many recipients as possible, Mr Ong said it is still possible some people were still missed out, but that the exercise is now over and his ministry will try its best to make it up.

"There is however one anonymous group who apparently are doctors in isolation wards," said Mr Ong, referring to the Instagram account. "They have claimed that they have also been missed out. But they are anonymous so I do invite them to please give us your names and the hospital you worked in, and we will certainly look at your cases objectively."