Ong Ye Kung: Specialist attrition rates range from 1% to 7%, smaller specialities see more fluctuations

SINGAPORE: The average attrition rates of various medical specialists at public hospitals have ranged between 1% and 7% in recent years, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a written response to a Parliamentary question. However, he noted that smaller specialities experience higher fluctuations due to their limited number of doctors. Ong was responding to PQ filed by Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Hazel Poa on 4 March, who inquired about the medical specialities with the highest attrition rates in public hospitals since 2020. She also asked about MOH's strategies to reduce attrition and maintain a healthy specialist-to-patient ratio. The Health Minister assured that the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to plan for the long term and sustain a robust training pipeline for specialists across all fields to meet Singapore’s healthcare needs. Looking ahead, Ong said that as Singapore’s population ages, the greater need in clinical manpower will not be for specialists but for doctors with broader skills to coordinate and integrate care across different specialities. To address this, the government has been increasing the training of Family Physicians to strengthen primary and community care, as well as Hospital Clinicians to lead hospital-based care, Ong added.

Attrition rates and demand for Allied Health Professionals

On 27 February, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam also filed a Parliamentary question regarding the demand and attrition of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). He asked whether demand for AHPs had increased between 2019 and 2023, and how attrition rates for AHPs in public hospitals, community hospitals, long-term care facilities, and polyclinics compared with those of doctors and nurses. In response, Ong confirmed that the demand for AHPs has been rising due to growing healthcare needs. The total number of registered diagnostic radiographers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiation therapists, and speech therapists increased by 25% from 6,000 in 2019 to 7,500 in 2023. He also provided insights into attrition rates, revealing that in the public healthcare sector, AHP attrition increased slightly from 8.9% in 2018 to 11.6% in 2022. However, in the community care sector, attrition fell from 17.7% in 2018 to 11.3% in 2022. MOH continues to collaborate with public healthcare clusters, community care organisations, and Institutes of Higher Learning to train, attract, and retain AHPs. Ong highlighted the importance of career progression, professional development opportunities, a conducive work environment, and competitive salaries in ensuring workforce stability.

Salary enhancements to retain healthcare professionals

To improve retention, Ong stated that Public Healthcare Institutions raised AHPs’ starting salaries in 2023. Since 2021, MOH has also supported salary enhancements in the community care sector, including for AHPs. In January 2024, Ong announced that around 37,000 AHPs, pharmacists, and administrative, ancillary, and support staff would receive salary increments by mid-2025. The last salary revision for AHPs, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians, was in 2021. Additionally, 26,000 public healthcare nurses will also receive salary adjustments to keep pace with market trends, MOH confirmed.