'These organisations have likewise been integral to our fight against COVID-19'
Public healthcare workers in Singapore are set to receive $4,000 each as a reward for their commitment to beating the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. The reward is part of the COVID-19 Healthcare Award, which will be given to 100,000 eligible staff from publicly funded healthcare organisations. Those included in the award are workers from National Healthcare Group, National University Health System, and SingHealth.
"It serves as a recognition of the contribution and dedication of healthcare staff throughout this fight," said the ministry in a statement.
They are set to receive their awards in December. More details are underway and will be released once ready. Meanwhile, the government will also be extending the COVID-19 Healthcare Award to publicly funded Community Care Organisations (CCOs), including community hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis centres that helped protect vulnerable elderly and free up hospital beds.
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"These organisations have likewise been integral to our fight against COVID-19, alongside the public healthcare institutions," the ministry said.
A bigger $10,000, meanwhile, will be extended as a grant to Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) as part of their contributions in the fight against the pandemic.
The award to PHPCs and to the eligible staff of CCOs will be handed in the first quarter of 2022, according ot the ministry.
Ong, in a message at the National Medical Excellence Awards, said the monetary reward "does not fully reflect the contribution of our healthcare workers."
"But it is an appropriate thing for MOH to do, to recognise your contribution in this very exceptional year," he said as quoted by Channel News Asia.
