Singapore’s public healthcare sector is set for a major salary boost, with some 63,000 employees receiving pay increases of up to 7% from 1 July. Announced by the Ministry of Health earlier this year, the pay raise aims to keep wages competitive and strengthen talent retention in an industry facing rising demand and global competition.

The salary revisions will benefit 37,000 allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists, and administrative, ancillary, and support staff, whose pay will rise by up to 7%. This group last saw a salary adjustment in 2021. In addition to AHPs, 26,000 public healthcare nurses will also receive increases of up to 4%, a move designed to ensure their pay remains aligned with market trends.

These adjustments come on top of the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (Angel) scheme, launched in September 2024. This initiative provides some 29,000 nurses with payouts of up to $100,000 each over 20 years, incentivising long-term careers in the profession.

MOH said these salary hikes, coupled with annual increments, will help the public healthcare sector remain attractive to both new and existing talent. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing workforce development through career progression opportunities and job redesign initiatives.

Workforce pressures in public health care

The salary adjustments come against a backdrop of mounting challenges for Singapore’s healthcare sector. An ageing population is driving up demand for healthcare services, while global competition for skilled professionals remains intense – especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses, who form the backbone of the system, have been in particularly high demand. The attrition rate among local nurses climbed from 5.4% in 2020 to 7.4% in 2021, while turnover among foreign nurses more than doubled to 14.8% in the same period.

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Similarly, AHPs have seen rising departure rates, with their public-sector attrition increasing from 8.9% in 2018 to 11.6% in 2022.

Recognising these trends, Singapore plans to introduce a new strategy in 2025 to better define the roles of AHPs – who include physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical social workers. These professionals work alongside doctors and nurses to provide comprehensive patient care.

Dr. Tan Wu Meng, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, described the salary adjustments as a crucial first step in retaining talent. However, he stressed that financial incentives alone would not suffice.

Strengthening the healthcare workforce

The Healthcare Services Employees’ Union welcomed the pay hikes, crediting the collective efforts of Singapore’s three public healthcare clusters in improving compensation.

President K. Thanaletchimi highlighted how, beyond salary increases, workers will also benefit from expanded pay ranges and enhanced medical, dental, and hospitalisation benefits.

“Our healthcare workers are dedicated in their care for us,” the official said. “By recognising their dedication with wages and benefits that are both fair and competitive, we are reinforcing our commitment to their wellbeing.

“These enhancements will enable Singapore to continue attracting and retaining top talent, while strengthening our public healthcare system for the future.”

With demand for healthcare services on the rise and competition for skilled professionals intensifying, the measures are designed to bolster Singapore’s approach to ensuring the sustainability of its healthcare workforce.

While salary adjustments provide an immediate boost, Singapore officials believe long-term strategies in career development, job redesign, and public awareness will remain essential in keeping the sector resilient in the years to come.