SPEECH BY MR TAN KIAT HOW, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION & MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE NHG HEALTH NURSES’ DAY CELEBRATION, 29 JULY 2026

Group CEO, Professor Joe Sim,

Group Chief Nurse, Ms Shirley Heng,

Distinguished guests,

I am very delighted to know there are some caregivers among us too.

And most importantly, all of you, our nurses.

1.       It is a real privilege to join you today to celebrate Nurses’ Day. This year’s theme is “The Heart of Nursing.” I cannot think of a more fitting theme. And for me, it is also a deeply personal one.

2.       My mother has been a nurse for more than fifty years. She became a nurse at just 16 years old, straight out of school. Nursing has been her life's work ever since. Growing up, I never fully appreciated what that meant. I simply knew that she worked long shifts, sometimes through the nights, missed family occasions from time to time, and often came back home exhausted. But as I grew older, I began to understand.

3.       I realised that nursing was never just a job for her. It was part of who she was. She spoke about her patients with warmth and compassion. She celebrated their recoveries. She worried about those who were struggling. Even after a difficult day, she carried with her a deep sense of responsibility for the people she cared for.

4.       And through her, I learnt that nursing is not simply about treating illness. It is about giving hope when people are frightened, dignity when they are vulnerable, and comfort when they need it most.

5.       So today is a personal one for me. And I thank all of you today, I am also thanking my mother—and generations of nurses like her, who have quietly devoted their lives to caring for Singaporeans.

6.       When my mother first became a nurse more than five decades ago, Singapore was a very different country. Our population was much younger. Healthcare was largely about treating illness and helping patients recover.

7.       Today, we face a different challenge. Today, Singapore has become a super-aged society and this in many ways, a sign of our success. More Singaporeans are living longer than ever before.

8.       But longer lives also mean more people are living with chronic conditions. More families are balancing work while caring for ageing parents, even as they raise children of their own. Many caregivers shoulder these responsibilities quietly, often under tremendous strain.

9.       These are not simply healthcare challenges. These are societal challenges. If we are to help Singaporeans live not just longer, but healthier and more fulfilling lives, healthcare cannot remain centred only around hospitals.

10.      Increasingly, care must be delivered closer to home, in our communities, and alongside families. And that is changing what it means to be a nurse.

11.      Today, nurses are not only caring for patients at the bedside. They are helping people stay healthy, supporting healthy ageing, coaching patients to manage chronic conditions, partnering caregivers, and bringing preventive care closer to where people live through initiatives such as Community Health Posts, where nurses meet residents in their own neighbourhoods and help them stay healthy.

12.      Healthcare is changing. The role of nurses is changing. But the heart of nursing has never changed. We saw that most clearly during COVID-19. When uncertainty surrounded all of us, you continued to show up every day, despite the risks to yourselves and your loved ones.

13.      You worked long hours in full protective equipment. You cared for patients who could not be with their loved ones. You comforted families through fear and uncertainty. You supported one another through extraordinary physical and emotional demands.

14.      COVID reminded Singapore that while medicine and technology are essential, healthcare ultimately depends on people. People with courage. People with compassion. People whom we trust with our lives and with the lives of those we love. Singapore will never forget what our nurses did during those years. Please give yourself a round of applause. A very big thank you to all of you.

15.      As healthcare evolves, we must also ensure that our nurses are supported to succeed. We cannot simply ask nurses to do more. We must equip and empower nurses to do more—to lead, to innovate, and to shape the future of healthcare. That is why we continue to invest in nursing as a profession: strengthening career pathways, expanding opportunities for specialisation and advancing practice, developing nurse leaders, and supporting lifelong learning so that every nurse can continue to grow throughout his or her career.

16.      Technology will also become an increasingly important partner. As mentioned by Chief Nurse Shirley earlier, AI and digital tools will be part of the workplace. They can reduce administrative work, improve care coordination and support better clinical decisions. Used well, these tools can give nurses something that is increasingly precious—more time with patients.

17.      Technology can support care. But it can never replace compassion. It can never replace judgement. And it can never replace the reassurance that only a nurse can provide.

18.      I am also very encouraged by the strong local core of our nursing workforce. Today, around 70 per cent of our nurses are local nurses, forming the backbone of our healthcare system. We continue to see many Singaporeans choosing nursing as their course of study and as a career. And this gives me confidence in the future of the profession. Our healthcare system is also enriched by nurses from around the world who have chosen to build their careers here and care for our patients. Together, whether your are local nurses or nurses from abroad, you are part of this nursing community, one nursing community. And together, you have earned the trust of generations of Singaporeans.

19.      I am especially encouraged to see more men joining the profession. Compassion, leadership and excellence in care know no gender. Every nurse brings unique strengths to the profession, and I hope even more people—women and men alike—will see nursing for what it truly is: one of the most meaningful and impactful professions they can choose.

20.      So today, we also celebrate nurses who exemplify the very best of this profession through the NHG Health Nurse of the Year Awards.

21.      One of this year’s recipients is Ms Sheeba Nithya Nirubama from the Institute of Mental Health. Working with persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability and complex behavioural challenges requires exceptional patience, expertise and compassion. But what impressed me most was that Sheeba did not simply ask how she could care for her patients better. She asked how care itself could be made better. That mindset—to keep questioning, to keep innovating and to keep improving—is exactly what the future of nursing requires.

22.      Her 6S Activity Reorganisation programme improved patient engagement and reduced behavioural episodes. Beyond that, she mentors younger nurses, supports her colleagues, and constantly seeks better ways to serve her patients. Sheeba reminds us that the future of nursing is not simply about providing care. It is about leading change and in a way, supporting the next generation of nurses. I am sure there are many exemplary nurses like Sheeba, and this gives me encouragement and optimism about this profession. So, congratulations to Sheeba and to all our award recipients.

23.      When I think about my mother, I think about more than fifty years of quiet service. Over those five decades, medicine has changed dramatically. Treatments have advanced. Technology has transformed healthcare. But she often reminds me that one thing has never changed.

24.      Growing up, I thought my mother was simply looking after patients. Only later did I realise she was also giving countless families hope and confidence during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.

25.      Patients may not remember every treatment they received. But they remember how they were cared for. They remember the nurse who listened. The nurse who explained. The nurse who gave them confidence. The nurse who treated them not simply as a patient, but as a fellow human being.

26.      Healthcare will continue to evolve. The role of nurses will continue to evolve. But what patients need from nurses will never change. And to me that is the heart of nursing.

27.      To every nurse here today, thank you—for everything you have done, everything you continue to do, and everything you will do for Singapore in the years ahead. Happy Nurses’ Day.