Despite its proximity and streamlined processes, Singapore struggles to retain foreign nurses, with many considering leaving for better opportunities abroad.
Singapore’s appeal to foreign nurses, due to its geographical advantage and relatively simple application procedures, has made it a sought-after destination for healthcare professionals. However, despite efforts to recruit nearly 4,000 additional nurses by the end of 2023, the country faces significant challenges in retaining them.
Healthcare experts highlight Singapore’s proximity to countries like the Philippines, India, and Myanmar as a key advantage. This closeness, combined with the country’s relatively straightforward licensing process compared to nations like the United States or the United Kingdom, positions Singapore as a prime choice for foreign nurses seeking employment.
However, challenges persist. The Singapore Nursing Board requires foreign-trained nurses to pass a licensure examination and a competency assessment to practice, but this process is often less cumbersome than in other countries, where additional tests like English proficiency exams may be necessary.
Despite these advantages, nurses are increasingly eyeing opportunities in other countries. The global pandemic has intensified the demand for healthcare workers, prompting many nations to offer competitive pay and better work-life balance. For many foreign nurses, the ability to remain close to their families while working is a major factor in their decision-making process.
Singapore has been striving to address these challenges. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung recently announced plans to add around 4,000 nurses by 2023, with a significant portion coming from abroad to compensate for COVID-19-related recruitment delays. These efforts are essential in light of increasing attrition rates among both local and foreign nurses.
In 2021, the attrition rate for foreign nurses nearly doubled to 14.8% compared to the previous year. To counter this, the Health Ministry introduced special payments for more than 25,000 nurses, and base salaries were raised by up to 14%.
Despite these incentives, the difficulties of settling in Singapore are prompting some foreign nurses to consider returning to their home countries. Mei, a nurse from Myanmar, has faced multiple rejections in her attempts to secure permanent residency despite being married to a Singaporean and working in the country for over a decade. Similarly, Paul, an Indian nurse, is concerned about his chances of permanent residency after failing several times to obtain it.
Experts such as Associate Professor Jeremy Lim from the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health suggest that Singapore’s stringent residency laws may be a key factor pushing foreign nurses abroad. Lim argues that offering long-term residency options could help Singapore retain its foreign nursing workforce and remain competitive in the global healthcare market.
Without such measures, Singapore risks becoming a stepping stone for nurses, offering them valuable experience but little long-term stability. This trend could have long-term consequences as the country’s healthcare system faces an ongoing global nursing shortage.
