STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH
HEALTH MEASURES AGAINST SARS OUTBREAK

Measures to recognise our health care workers
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Dr Michael Lim and Dr Chong Weng Chiew asked how we are recognising the professionalism and contributions by our health care workers. Let me put on record that we are proud of them and we commend them highly for their dedication and professionalism. I am pleased to inform the House that the two health care clusters, as employers of these health care workers have already implemented a policy of covering the complete medical bills of their staff and their families should they fall ill with SARS in the line of duty. For these staff, the medical expenses and medical leave will not be deducted from their yearly entitlement. A Courage Fund has been set up by the two health care clusters, the Singapore Medical Association, Singapore Nurses Association and Singapore Press Holdings to help the families of needy SARS patients in honour of all health care workers in Singapore. The clusters have in place a mechanism to review the salary of our nurses and other health-care workers regularly. Apart from salary review, we will look into other ways to honour and recognize the exceptional contributions made by all our health-care workers at an appropriate time.