Singapore's healthcare system stretched amid surge in Covid-19 cases in ICU

Resignations among health workers has also spiked in first half of 2021, says Janil

Sharon See

Published Tue, Nov 2, 2021 · 05:50 AM

Singapore

SINGAPORE cannot open up and risk having the number of Covid-19 cases "shoot up" and overwhelm the healthcare system at a time when medical workers are stretched to their limit, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Monday (Nov 1).

Already, there has been a spike in resignations among healthcare workers at 1,500 in the first half of 2021, compared with the annual average of 2,000 pre-pandemic, Dr Janil said in a ministerial statement on an update on the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital capacity situation.