Singapore intends to hire 180 junior doctors from India over the next three years.

“Preference is given to locals who have graduated from medical schools approved by the Singapore Medical Council,” the firm explained.

Plans to recruit 180 junior doctors from India 

According to a report in the media, Singapore has plans to recruit 180 junior doctors from India over the course of the next three years. This decision has been questioned by many people. A tender due on October 10 aims to hire 60 medical officers from India per year from 2022 to 2024, with a possible extension to 2025.

Alleviate the “severe workload”

According to MOH Holdings (MOHH), a corporation of Singapore’s public healthcare institutions, Singapore has been hiring doctors from other countries in order to alleviate the “severe workload” that exists here and to complement its demands in terms of healthcare capacity.

Rigorous supervision with a conditional registration

The company confirmed the Request by saying it was looking for medical professionals in Australia and the United Kingdom in addition to India. 

According to the announcement made by the company, it is looking for applicants who received their degrees from medical schools that are included in the Medical Registration Act. These physicians will only be permitted to practise clinically under rigorous supervision with a conditional registration, it was stressed.

Others questioned why Singapore was unable to simply raise the number of students admitted to medical institutions already located in the country.

Singaporeans express their concern

Several people who work in the medical community in the area have voiced their concerns regarding the tender.

Associate Professor Jeremy Lim from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health stated late last month in a post on social media that the practice of developed countries such as Singapore recruiting health professionals from overseas raises the concern that “the rich world hires away scarce resources from less well-staffed countries.”

According to the MOHH, it recruits approximately 700 junior doctors every year, and approximately 90% of them are residents of Singapore. These residents either received their medical education in one of Singapore’s medical schools or are returning Singaporeans who graduated from a recognised medical school overseas.

It has been reported that the number of people entering the nation’s medical schools has increased by 45 percent overall between the years of 2012 and 2019, which indicates that the number of doctors trained in the nation’s medical schools has increased over the course of time, according to a spokeswoman quoted by Channel News Asia.

According to the study, in the years 2020 and 2021, an additional 40 students were allowed to enroll in order to accommodate pupils whose foreign educational plans were derailed as a result of the Covid epidemic. 

However, the spokeperson of MOHH, went on to say that “regardless of their country”, they recognise the contributions that each and every doctor makes to Singapore and the healthcare system.

Employment agencies law, Immigration law, and the Employment of foreign workers act.

The Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), the Immigration Act, and the Employment Agencies Act (EA Act) control the employment of foreign workers in Singapore. These are the legislations governing the use of foreign labour.

Before beginning employment in Singapore, all foreign nationals must be in possession of a valid pass (also known as a work visa).

It is the employer’s responsibility to verify the legal status of any foreign workers before hiring them in Singapore.

EFMA 

The EFMA ensures the safety and security of foreign workers by establishing guidelines for their employment.

All employers in Singapore are required to abide by the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, which lays out the necessary steps to take when hiring foreign workers.

Legal consequences for violating work permit rules are also addressed.

What groups does it include?

Employers of foreign workers and anyone holding a valid Ministry of Manpower work permit are both protected by the EFMA. An Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit can all be used as legal documents to legally obtain work in a country.

Primarily accountable duties

Application, medical insurance, levy, cancellation, and return obligations are all spelled out in detail in the EFMA. 

Salary, hours worked, overtime, rest days, public holidays, annual leave, and sick leave are some of the areas where the Employment Act places strict requirements on foreign employees.