Have President’s Award for doctors, too

For nearly two decades now, Singapore has had the President’s Award for Nurses to recognise the best in the nursing profession.

But the city state has ignored the fact that doctors and other auxiliary healthcare workers are equally important and dedicated. 

It is time we establish a president’s award for these healthcare professionals. These can be done alongside the award for nurses.

Countries around the world already bestow public recognition on doctors. The British honours system, for example, is one of the oldest in the world that acknowledges the work of doctors. 

These awards help patients to identify the best specialists in their country who are recognised for their training, qualifications, skills and care, after nominations and rigorous selection.

I am surprised that Singapore does not have such awards. 

Public hospitals may already have in-house awards for doctors and other healthcare professionals. There are also the Singapore Health Quality Service Awards, which celebrate healthcare professionals who provide the best care and made an impact on their patients.

But these do not go far enough. Healthcare professionals should be given more public recognition for their contributions. Conferring only the President’s Award for Nurses seems to disregard the good work of other healthcare professionals.

The Government should set up a selection committee to determine the most competent doctors and auxiliary healthcare workers.

Winners could also be judged by their integrity. Do they, for example, have virtues conducive to good end-of-life care?

Given the medical uncertainties of such care and the differences in how patients respond to treatment, humility is a key virtue. That includes a willingness to shift modes of treatment when an earlier course proves ineffective.

National awards at the highest level should not be reserved only for nurses. They should apply to other healthcare practitioners who work together to put patients at ease.

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