Health Minister: By investing in people, sharing knowledge & expertise, we can strengthen healthcare systems in Singapore & the Philippines
SINGAPORE: A new initiative was launched this week that stands to benefit both Singapore and the Philippines in terms of healthcare. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who was in Manila earlier this week for a World Health Organization Regional Committee Meeting, was also present for the signing of an Implementation Memorandum between Singapore’s Ministry of Health and the Philippines’ Department of…
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced an initiative aimed at strengthening healthcare systems in both Singapore and the Philippines. The program, signed during a meeting at the World Health Organization Regional Committee in Manila, will allow experienced Filipino nurses working in Singapore's public healthcare system to pursue scholarships for nurse educator training.
Upon completion, these trained nurses will return to the Philippines to educate future generations, fostering a mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations.
Singapore has a significant Filipino nursing workforce, with around one-third of the profession comprising foreign nurses. Approximately 200,000 overseas Filipino workers are present in Singapore, and from January 2023 to June 2026, 37,026 Filipino workers were deployed to Singapore in nursing-related professions, with 4,500 new hires and 32,526 rehires.
This week's signing builds upon an earlier agreement in 2024, establishing a formal mechanism for the recruitment, support, and return of Filipino healthcare workers to their home country.
The signing, attended by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, highlighted the valuable contributions made by Filipino nurses in Singapore, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.