SPEECH BY MR TAN KIAT HOW, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MDDI AND MOH, AT THE SINGHEALTH NURSES DAY CELEBRATIONS 2025

Mr Cheng Wai Keung, Chairman, SingHealth

Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Group CEO, SingHealth

Professor Tracy Carol Ayre, Group Chief Nurse, SingHealth

Colleagues

Nurses

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1.            A very good morning. I am very happy to join you today to celebrate SingHealth’s Nurses’ Day. Earlier today, together with the leadership team, I had the privilege of serving food alongside the team to our nurses. It’s a small gesture of our appreciation and gratitude. This morning’s proceedings have allowed me to witness firsthand your spirit of camaraderie, passion and zeal.

2.            This year is special as well. It marks 140 years of nursing in Singapore. The journey began in 1885 at what was then the General Hospital – now Singapore General Hospital – at Sepoy Lines, where French nuns from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus first took up nursing duties. Since then, as seen in the video,  nursing has transformed remarkably through innovation and technology, cutting-edge patient care solutions, as well as the use of virtual reality in training.

AI-Enabled Care

3.            It has transformed significantly over the last 140 years, and as what Professor Tracy said some things will change, but the work from the heart doesn’t change. Today, we see AI-enabled care enhancing nurses' clinical decision-making, making care more responsive and evidence-based. Robotic assistants are taking on physically demanding tasks, from delivering supplies to supporting heavy lifting in sterile supply units. Remote monitoring systems and wearables are extending our reach beyond hospital walls, enabling care delivery to patients' homes whilst improving efficiency in clinical areas. We are also empowering patients through technologies like bedside tablets, while reducing the administrative burden through innovations like real-time location systems for asset tracking. In SingHealth, through process reengineering and the "Get Rid of Silly Stuff" or GROSS initiative, you have systematically eliminated unnecessary administrative tasks and streamlined workflows, allowing nurses to focus on what truly matters - patient care. 

4.            For instance, Staff Nurse Reina Cheong from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) who is a promising nurse innovator, is passionate about combining her clinical practice with healthcare innovation. Reina is working on improving safety for hospitalised patients who need bedside ascitic fluid drainage by inventing a mechanical device that automatically stops drainage when it reaches the prescribed limit.  Reina has been driven by her desire to improve patient care, believing that the smallest friction points deserve thoughtful solutions – motivating her to find better solutions all the time

5.            As we look to the future, these technologies will continue to augment nursing care, giving our nurses more time to focus on what matters most - the human connection which is the essence of nursing: the compassion and dedication you bring to healing, and your vital role in our healthcare system. Nursing has a deep legacy. Take Sengkang General Hospital’s Muhammad Aljufri Bin Mohamad Taufik’s path to nursing leadership for example. He was inspired by his grandmother’s service as a nurse in the 1960s, joining Singapore General Hospital in 2012 before Sengkang General Hospital in 2016, continuing in his grandmother’s footsteps. He’s developed deep expertise in orthopaedic nursing while growing into a clinical educator role, and is now pursuing a Master of Advanced Practice (Clinical Leadership) at Curtin University. With the zeal and passion for nursing I’ve seen firsthand today, it gives me confidence that nursing in Singapore will continue to play a vital role in our healthcare for years to come.

Global Healthcare and Global Nursing Initiatives

6.            One of the greatest global challenges today is the uneven access to medical and technological advancements across different populations. As nurses, you understand this deeply - you see firsthand how access to care can impact health outcomes. This is why your role in global healthcare is so vital, sharing your expertise and experience to build stronger healthcare systems, not just in Singapore, but around the world.

7.            I am proud that SingHealth has made significant strides in advancing nursing excellence through local and global healthcare partnerships. Earlier this year, SingHealth organised the sixth SingHealth Nursing Conference, together with West China Hospital and Sichuan University. Drawing 900 participants from 10 countries, the conference served as a vital international platform where nurses and healthcare leaders, alongside industry experts, came together to advance nursing and shape global nursing trends and policies.

8.            The Centre for Global Nursing (CGN) launched last year has already trained 500 overseas nurses from eight countries. This initiative enables nurses to contribute their expertise beyond our shores while gaining valuable insights into different healthcare systems. SingHealth nurses are also serving as adjunct faculty, helping shape nursing curricula for schools across the region

9.            Beyond CGN's projects, SingHealth nurses serve as key opinion leaders regionally and globally. A notable achievement is KK Women's and Children's Hospital's (KKH) co-establishment of the Global Nursing Network for Rare Diseases in 2023, alongside the Rare Care Centre in Australia, Curtin University, and SingHealth Duke-NUS Genomic Medicine Centre. The network has grown to include over 600 members across 61 countries. The 2025 launch of its Asia-Pacific Chapter now supports 160 nurses and midwives across 16 countries in caring for individuals with rare and undiagnosed genetic conditions.

Recognition of Nurses’ Contribution

10.         Given the important roles played by our healthcare professionals, including nurses, it is important that we recognise their contributions and dedication to their professions.

11.         Earlier this month, we implemented salary adjustments for about 26,000 public healthcare nurses. This is part of a salary enhancement exercise that also benefits Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists, as well as administrative, ancillary and support staff working in the public healthcare clusters. Nurses can expect to receive adjustments of up to 4% to their monthly base salaries from this month. This builds on the previous salary enhancements of between 5% and 14% between July 2021 and July 2022, and are part of our continued efforts to ensure our nurses are fairly and competitively remunerated for their contributions.

12.         We also implemented the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty, or more commonly referred to as “ANGEL” awards, in September 2024 to encourage nurses to build a lifelong career in nursing within the public healthcare sector. Under ANGEL, all nurses working in the public healthcare sector can receive a total payout of up to $100,000 over the next 20 years of their careers. 

13.           But beyond remuneration, we have also taken steps to improve the wellbeing of our healthcare workforce. Of note, all clusters have appointed Chief Wellness Officers to oversee well-being initiatives, such as introducing psychological support resources. The Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment of Healthcare Workers is also in place across healthcare employers including SingHealth institutions, with support measures for staff, public education and outreach for a zero-tolerance policy, and staff training to manage and de-escalate potential incidents of abuse and harassment.

Closing

14.         So, today, we celebrate more than 240 SingHealth nurses who are receiving various awards, scholarships, and prizes. To the scholarship and award recipients today, congratulations - your achievements exemplify the excellence and dedication that define nursing. To our nursing leaders, thank you for your unwavering leadership in nurturing our next generation of nurses.

15.         The future of nursing is bright, and the reason is clear. You are all extraordinary nurses who bring not only clinical expertise but also warmth, passion and innovation to your work every day. Making a real difference to patients, to Singaporeans, to every one of us, making our community and society a much better place, a more inclusive place, and one full of warmth and love. Thank you for being there for your patients and family members when they need comfort. All of you demonstrate daily that while robots can take vital signs, they can't hold a frightened patient's hand. While AI can detect abnormal conditions, it can never provide the reassurance that comes from a nurse’s caring presence.

16.         In closing, to every nurse here today – whether you serve in our hospitals, polyclinics, or community care settings – a very big thank you. Your unwavering commitment to putting others first continues to inspire all of us. Let us honour this proud 140-year legacy by continuing to inspire, lead and care with compassion.

17.         It is a particularly meaningful occasion for me not just to celebrate 140 years of nursing and to have a chance to personally say a big thank you to all. Nurses, especially SingHealth Nurses, who take care of our residents, especially in the east side. I see the nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals at CGH and SingHealth Polyclinics on a regular basis, and especially over the COVID period, you guys worked so hard and really made a real difference to the health of the community. I see firsthand the dedication, the heart work and hard work of all our staff, so a very big thank you. I wanted to make sure I came here personally to say it to all of you.

18.         For a personal reason, I’m also saying thank you to my mom, who’s been a nurse for 55 years, since she started working when she was 16 years old out of school. She’s still a nurse, working part time but at a much slower tempo than a hospital setting, but still, someone I respect deeply. I remember being a child and helping her starch her uniform, I don’t know if you guys do that anymore, it was many years ago as a young boy helping her. I watched firsthand how she worked very hard, so many shifts and night shifts as well – sometimes as a young kid I didn’t understand why mom had to work weekends and nights. I also watched firsthand how she took so much pride in her work - all those hard work, it’s very tiring - but there was always a bounce in her step and sense of satisfaction and purpose. I am sure that every nurse feels that as well. To all the nurses out there, thank you so much for taking care of us and inspiring us. And more importantly, the world is a much better place because of you. Thank you. Happy Nurses’ Day!