21 July 2003
The Courage Fund today stands at $28.3 million. This includes the government's top up of $1 million and dollar-for-dollar matching.
The Fund was started to help patients with SARS. It has also been a focus for paying tribute to healthcare workers and has received resounding support from the public wanting to help SARS victims and healthcare workers. At the height of the battle against Sars, when it was unclear what course the battle would take, this overwhelming outpouring of support gave healthcare workers resounding assurance that the people of Singapore supported and applauded their courage and heroism against the tiny but deadly enemy.
TAKING CARE OF IMMEDIATE NEEDS
To date, the Fund has been used to provide relief to meet the immediate financial needs of healthcare workers and SARS victims, in the following ways:
(a) Lump Sum Relief for SARS victims who had contracted SARS or died of SARS;
(b) Hospitalisation Relief for unemployed and self-employed persons who have been hospitalised for SARS-related reasons as Observation or Suspect cases;
(c) Hospital Quarantine Relief for self-employed persons who have been quarantined in hospital for extended stay beyond being certified as "fit for discharge";
(d) Education Grants for children of healthcare workers who have died of SARS in the line of duty, to cover educational needs of the children up to basic university degree level
ENHANCEMENTS TO THESE SCHEMES
Hospitalisation Bill
The Lump Sum Relief for patients and healthcare workers has now been enhanced to cover the hospitalisation bill for those whose bills are not covered by their employers or insurance companies;
Education Grants Extended
The Education Grants initially extended only to children of healthcare workers who lost their lives to Sars. The benefit is now extended to children of all patients who died from Sars, where the patient was one of the breadwinners of the family.
With these enhanced reliefs, the cost of the four schemes will be about $5.5 million.
NEW SCHEMES
After taking care of the immediate needs of SARS victims, the Board of Trustees has carefully deliberated the use of the remaining funds of about $23 million, with the intent to recognise, honour and promote the spirit of courage and dedication of our healthcare workers, these being the original aims of the Fund.
After consulting with major donors and the healthcare community, the Board of trustees has decided to allocate the remaining funds to the following uses:
(a) Courage Awards $5 mil
(b) Reserve (and for The Courage Fund Model Healthcare Worker Awards) $8 mil
(c) Courage Fund Chair for Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Management & Control $3 mil
(d) Courage Fund Bursary Awards for Nurses and Allied Health Workers $3 mil
(e) Courage Fund Grants for needy Healthcare Workers $4 mil
Courage Awards
The Courage Awards will give direct recognition to frontline healthcare workers who had treated SARS patients for this episode of Sars in Singapore. These healthcare workers had demonstrated immense courage and self-sacrifice during the SARS crisis, in putting others before self, thus exposing themselves and their families to the risk of SARS.
There will be two categories of awards, the Courage Star and the Courage Medal. The awardees will receive a minted medal and a cash award ($2,000 for Courage Star and $500 for Courage Medal). The Courage Award will be given only this year.
Nominations will be invited from the various hospitals and organisations that had staff deployed to the frontline to battle SARS.
Reserve
SARS is a new disease and little is known about it even today, as is the possibility of future outbreaks. It is prudent, therefore, to provide for the future by setting aside a reserve. The reserve will be set aside as an endowment fund, to serve an active function. The annual interest income will be used to support the annual Courage Fund Model Healthcare Worker Awards. In the event of a recurrence of SARS or other infectious disease in similar catastrophic proportion to the SARS episode, the reserve may be drawn down to help the victims and healthcare workers.
The Courage Fund Model Healthcare Worker Awards
The Courage Fund Model HCW Awards will continue the legacy of the Courage Awards to recognise and honour healthcare workers in future years.
From 2004, the Courage Fund Model HCW Awards will continue to honour and pay tribute to healthcare workers who are excellent role models for the values of courage, dedication and humanity. By focussing on these values, it will position healthcare work as a noble profession, not merely a job. Through this re-positioning, it will enhance the image, prestige and respect for the profession.
The awards will be valued at $2,000 each, comprising a medal and cash award. The number of awards for each year shall be flexible, depending on the number of deserving candidates.
The first batch of awards will be given out on 31 May 2004, to commemorate the anniversary of the day Singapore was declared "SARS-free" in 2003.
Courage Fund Chair for Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Management & Control
The SARS episode has highlighted the importance of having a pool of highly competent healthcare workers. Of particular importance are epidemiology and infectious diseases management and control.
A fund of $3 million will be provided to the National University of Singapore to set up an Endowed Chair for Visiting Professorship in Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Management & Control. The NUS will work in collaboration with the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) to focus on areas of direct application to the healthcare industry.
Through the Chair, eminent international experts in these clinical disciplines will be invited to Singapore to conduct learning programmes eg. public lectures, conferences, seminars or symposiums, where they will share and impart their knowledge to Singapore's healthcare professionals. This will enable a sizable portion of our healthcare professionals in Singapore to improve their capabilities in these critical clinical areas.
Courage Fund Bursary Awards for Nurses and Allied Health Workers
The bursary awards will provide financial assistance to nurses and allied health workers seeking to upgrade their professional knowledge through formal education. The bursary awards will be open to those already serving in the healthcare industry in Singapore. It will be applicable for basic degree courses in healthcare disciplines. About 20 awards valued at $5,000 each will be given out every year.
Courage Fund Grants for Needy Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers spend the better part of their lives tending to the nursing and medical needs of others. Should they be in needy circumstances or are sick or physically infirm themselves, it is only compassionate that they should be accorded the proper care that they deserve.
The Grants will provide financial relief to former healthcare workers who are either in difficult financial circumstances in meeting their daily sustenance needs, or are in need of accommodation and nursing care from a nursing home or sheltered home in Singapore. The recipient must have served in the healthcare industry in Singapore for at least 10 years and must still be residing in Singapore. Means testing will be applied.
A recipient qualifying for the Grant will receive an allowance of $300 per month, for a maximum period of 5 years. |
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