AODA Country Information—Singapore Updated by Natalie Goh, Country Representative for Singapore June 2012 (For more information, contact [email protected]) National dietetic association address, contact name for credentialing verification Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association (SNDA) http://www.snda.org.sg For Inquiries: [email protected] Mailing Address: Singapore Nutrition & Dietetics Association c/o Nutrition & Dietetics Department Khoo Teck Puat Hospital 90 Yishun Central Singapore 768828 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Training of national dietitians, professional role and regard There are currently no academic and professional courses for the training of dietitians in Singapore. All practicing dietitians were trained overseas, mainly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States and Malaysia. However, there are food and nutrition-related degree and diploma programmes in Singapore. These programmes have created more opportunities for dietitians who wish to consider teaching in the academia. The Singapore Institute of Technology – Newcastle University UK offers a 2-year Honours degree programme in Bachelor of Science with Honours in Food & Human Nutrition (http://www.singaporetech.edu.sg/food-and-human-nutrition/bachelor-of-science-with-honours- in-food-human-nutrition-2). The Culinary Institute of America – Singapore offers a culinary-related degree program in Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Culinary Arts Management (http://www2.ciachef.edu/singapore/program.html). The Temasek Polytechnic offers a 3-year diploma course in Applied Food Science and Nutrition and in Nanyang Polytechnic, a diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (http://www- as.tp.edu.sg/asc_home/asc_courses/asc_ft_courses/asc_courses_afsn.htm, http://www.nyp.edu.sg/scl/courses/diploma-in-food-science-n-nutrition). A Polytechnic is similar to community colleges in the USA. Students wishing to become a Registered Dietitian could use this degree as a bridge for obtaining admission into a foreign university offering a dietetics and internship program, eg, for obtaining admission into Australian universities where students complete of their 4th year of education and dietetic internship. There are also health and wellness-related programmes, for example, the Specialist Diploma in Health Promotion by the Nanyang Polytechnic School of Health Sciences, Diploma in Sports & Exercise Science, Diploma in Health Management and Promotion by the Republic Polytechnic School of Sports, Health and Leisure and Diploma in Nutrition, Health & Wellness by the Singapore Polytechnic. Correspondence studies /long distance courses on nutrition & dietetics are popular, but most are for short duration and/or are not accredited. Page 1 of 6 AODA Country Information—Singapore Updated by Natalie Goh, Country Representative for Singapore June 2012 (For more information, contact [email protected]) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brief description of national healthcare system and private practice In Singapore, there is a dual system of healthcare delivery. The public system is managed by the Government, while the private system is provided by the private hospitals and general practitioners. The healthcare delivery system comprises primary health care provision at private medical practitioners' clinics and outpatient polyclinics, as well as secondary and tertiary specialist care in the private and public hospitals. The practitioners from some 2000 private medical clinics provide 80% of the primary healthcare services while the 18 government polyclinics provide the remaining 20%. For the more costly hospital care, it is the reverse situation with 80% of the hospital care being provided by the public sector and the remaining 20% by the private sector. The 9 public hospitals comprise 7 general hospitals (Singapore General Hospital, National University Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Alexandra Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (under construction), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital), the KK Women's and Children's Hospital and a psychiatry hospital (Institute of Mental Health). The philosophy of healthcare here emphasizes the building of a healthy population by the promotion of healthy living and through preventive healthcare programmes. Singaporeans are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestye and be actively responsible for their own health. Patients are also expected to co-pay part of their medical expenses and to pay more when they demand a higher level of service. However, the Government also ensures that good and affordable basic medical services are made available to all Singaporeans by providing heavily subsidized medical services at the public hospitals and government clinics. Information of hospital bill size is available for public access. To help Singaporeans to pay for their medical expenses, the Government has put in place a financing framework, which consists of Medisave, Medishield, Eldershield and Medifund. Healthcare and health-related services are under the purview of the following ministries: Ministry of Health (MOH) is responsible for providing preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services in Singapore. MOH formulates national health policies, co-ordinates the development and planning of the private and public health sectors, as well as regulates health standards. For more information about the healthcare system in Singapore, visit website www.moh.gov.sg Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) Its mission is to ensure a resilient supply of safe food, to safeguard the health of animals and plants and facilitate agri-trade for the well-being of Singapore. It is also the national authority on food safety for both primary and processed food. For more information, visit website www.ava.gov.sg. Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Its mission is to deliver and sustain a clean and healthy environment and water resources for all in Singapore. The National Environment Agency (NEA), a statutory board formed under MEWR is responsible for environmental protection and public health services such as sewage, drainage and waste disposal systems, control of air and water pollution and of toxic chemicals and poisons, the control of outbreak of infectious diseases, vector or insect control and the safety of the food prepared and sold in Singapore. For more information, visit websites www.mewr.gov.sg and www.nea.gov.sg. Page 2 of 6 AODA Country Information—Singapore Updated by Natalie Goh, Country Representative for Singapore June 2012 (For more information, contact [email protected]) Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is responsible for the industrial and occupational health of the workers. Together with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport, they also promote work life effectiveness and work life harmony in the workplaces. For more information, visit website www.mom.gov.sg & www.mcys.gov.sg. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Employment opportunities profile Dietitians in Singapore work in hospitals, polyclinics, government and community agencies, food industry, food service establishments, educational institutions, and in private practice. Examples of employment opportunities for dietitians are the Health Promotion Board; Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS); Temasek Polytechnic; Singapore Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore Institute of Technology, food & catering companies, public & private hospitals and government polyclinics in Singapore. Research opportunities are available through A*STAR and the National University of Singapore. Some job openings come as emails from the SNDA secretary to SNDA members, as employers sometimes send job recruitment advertisements to SNDA. Many dietitians and nutritionists in Singapore are SNDA members; so attending their meetings is a good way to start networking. A dietitian seeking employment in Singapore needs to be mindful of this country’s unique ethnic composition. Although English is commonplace, each ethnic group has its own language, religion, food customs and beliefs. The total population is about 5.18 millions, with a resident population of 3.78 millions in 2011. In 2011, the population is comprised of about 74.1% Chinese, 13.4% Malay, 9.2% Indian and 3.3% other ethnic group. Like many developed countries, Singapore faces key challenges such as low fertility rate and ageing population. In 2011, 9.3% of the population is above 65 years of age. Singapore’s modern healthcare system and progressive government influence provide expanding prospects for dietitians seeking employment there. With a proven track record of adopting good ideas from outside its borders and a forward thinking society, Singapore provides an appealing opportunity for dietitians to make a difference. The future likely holds more job opportunities for dietitians in Singapore. The Ministry of Health is concerned about future challenges including a shortage of dietitians and nutritionists, and has acted to improve the situation. Other concerns and challenges facing Singapore will also help generate job opportunities for dietitians in the future, such as: . The-increasing cost of providing healthcare as a result of advances in medical knowledge and technology, leading to increased specialization and sub-specialization. The rising expectations