DATA ON MEDIATION, WARNING AND POLICE ESCALATION FOR INTERNALLY REPORTED CASES OF HARASSMENT OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS UNDER TRIPARTITE FRAMEWORK

NOTICE PAPER NO. 575

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 MARCH 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong

MP for Hougang GRC 

Question No. 1168

To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in respect of the Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare (a) what is the median response time for (i) police investigation route and (ii) internally reported cases; and (b) of the cases reported internally, how many resulted in (i) mediation, (ii) warnings or access restrictions, (iii) escalation to police or (iv) no further action.

Answer

1            Under the Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare, healthcare workers are encouraged to report all incidents of abuse and harassment as soon as possible. Public healthcare institutions have put in place the necessary protocols, including activating supervisors or security personnel to de-escalate the situation and warning perpetrators against such behaviour and making clear our zero-tolerance stance against abuse and harassment. These are typically done on the spot or within the same day. 

2            Thereafter, the public healthcare institutions may adopt further follow-up actions as appropriate. This could include written warnings to perpetrators, and barring abusive next-of-kin and visitors from the premises. Serious cases, such as those resulting in physical harm to the healthcare worker, will be reported to the Police, where the length of the investigation depends on the nature and complexity of the case.