Healthcare worker abuse, harassment cases nearly double to 4,200 in two years

The rise reflects greater awareness and confidence among healthcare workers to speak up, says the tripartite workgroup behind the findings.

File photo of healthcare workers. (Photo: iStock)

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SINGAPORE: Reports of abuse and harassment against healthcare workers at public institutions nearly doubled from about 2,200 cases in 2023 to 4,200 in 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (Sep 30).

The number of cases reported to the police also rose over the same period, from about 350 to 550.

In a report released the same day, the Tripartite Workgroup for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment of Healthcare Workers said the rise does not in itself suggest that abuse and harassment have become more prevalent.

Instead, it is consistent with greater awareness of what constitutes unacceptable behaviour and greater confidence among healthcare workers to speak up and take action, the workgroup said.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Titled Standing Together: Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare in Singapore, the report documents the workgroup's four years of work. It was set up in 2022 amid growing concerns about the safety and well-being of healthcare workers across Singapore, and its term ended on Jun 30. Speaking at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital Safety and Security Week, where the report was launched, Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said abuse and harassment should not be accepted as part of healthcare work. “Healthcare work will sometimes involve difficult conversations, particularly when patients or caregivers are anxious or frustrated,” said Ms Rahayu, who is an adviser to the workgroup. “However, abuse and harassment must never be accepted as an inevitable part of the job.”

Titled Standing Together: Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare in Singapore, the report documents the workgroup's four years of work. It was set up in 2022 amid growing concerns about the safety and well-being of healthcare workers across Singapore, and its term ended on Jun 30.

Speaking at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital Safety and Security Week, where the report was launched, Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said abuse and harassment should not be accepted as part of healthcare work.

“Healthcare work will sometimes involve difficult conversations, particularly when patients or caregivers are anxious or frustrated,” said Ms Rahayu, who is an adviser to the workgroup.

“However, abuse and harassment must never be accepted as an inevitable part of the job.”

TWO IN THREE WITNESSED OR EXPERIENCED ABUSE

In 2023, the workgroup engaged more than 3,000 healthcare workers and more than 1,500 members of the public through surveys and focus group discussions.

About two in three healthcare workers surveyed said they had witnessed or experienced abuse or harassment, with verbal abuse among the most prevalent forms.

Many incidents went unreported because workers were unclear about reporting channels, feared repercussions or believed such treatment was simply "part of the job", the report said.

The workgroup launched a tripartite framework in 2023 that set a common definition of abuse and harassment and standardised how healthcare institutions should respond to incidents.

All public healthcare institutions now have dedicated healthcare worker protection functions, including chief wellness officers. Institutions can take action against perpetrators, including issuing warnings, removing them from their premises or discharging abusive patients who do not require urgent medical care.

More than 6,000 healthcare workers have been trained in advanced de-escalation and self-defence techniques. Basic training is given to all frontline staff and forms part of onboarding for new healthcare workers.

THREATS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The 23-page report highlighted several cases of abuse and harassment. In one, a patient made offensive sexual remarks to a staff member, causing her distress. She was initially reluctant to report the incident out of embarrassment and concern that pursuing it would add to her stress.

She was given wellness leave and regular well-being check-ins, and supported through the reporting process. The patient and his spouse were told the behaviour was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.

In another, a nurse clinician at National University Hospital was cornered by a patient's father after telling him mobility scooters were not allowed in the ward for safety reasons.

The man blocked her exit with a cardiac table, displayed a needle and penknife, threatened her and spat at her twice, according to the report. The hospital issued him a warning, made a police report and supported the nurse in applying for a personal protection order.

A 2025 survey by the workgroup found that more than nine in 10 healthcare workers at public institutions felt their organisations encouraged the reporting of abuse and harassment and supported a safe and respectful work environment.

Among members of the public surveyed that year, 86 per cent said they would consider stepping in if they witnessed such behaviour against a healthcare worker. Nine in 10 said everyone had a part to play in preventing it.

With the workgroup's term concluded, an employer-led Community of Practice will sustain its momentum, the report said. It will give healthcare organisations a platform to share experiences, strengthen capabilities and exchange best practices.

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负责此次调查的三方工作组表示，这一增长反映出医护人员的意识和信心增强，更愿意发声。

医护人员照片（资料图）。（图片来源：iStock）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：卫生部周三（9月30日）表示，公共机构医护人员遭受虐待和骚扰的报告数量几乎翻了一番，从2023年的约2200起增加到2025年的4200起。

同期，向警方报案的案件数量也从约 350 起增加到 550 起。

在同一天发布的一份报告中，防止虐待和骚扰医护人员的三方工作组表示，这一增长本身并不意味着虐待和骚扰变得更加普遍。

工作组表示，这反而与医护人员对何为不可接受行为的认识不断提高，以及更有信心敢于发声和采取行动相一致。

CNA游戏猜词游戏：逐行破解单词；流行词游戏：用给定的字母组成单词；迷你数独：小巧的谜题，强大的脑力挑战；迷你填字游戏：小方格，大挑战；单词搜索：尽可能多地找出单词。显示更多 显示更少 这份名为《携手并进：预防新加坡医疗保健领域的虐待和骚扰》的报告记录了该工作组四年来的工作。该工作组成立于2022年，当时人们越来越关注新加坡各地医护人员的安全和福祉，其任期于6月30日结束。在邱德拔医院和义顺社区医院安全周活动上，卫生部政务部长拉哈尤·马扎姆（Rahayu Mahzam）发表了讲话，该报告也在此发布。拉哈尤部长表示，虐待和骚扰不应被视为医疗保健工作的一部分。“医疗保健工作有时会涉及艰难的对话，尤其是在患者或护理人员焦虑或沮丧的时候，”拉哈尤部长说道，她同时也是该工作组的顾问。 “但是，虐待和骚扰绝不能被视为工作中不可避免的一部分。”

这份题为《携手并肩：预防新加坡医疗保健领域的虐待和骚扰》的报告记录了该工作组四年来的工作。该工作组成立于2022年，当时人们日益关注新加坡各地医护人员的安全和福祉，其任期于6月30日结束。

在邱德拔医院和义顺社区医院安全周活动上，卫生部政务部长拉哈尤·马赫扎姆发表讲话，该报告也在该活动上发布。他表示，虐待和骚扰不应被接受为医疗保健工作的一部分。

“医疗保健工作有时会涉及艰难的对话，尤其是在患者或护理人员感到焦虑或沮丧的时候，”工作组顾问拉哈尤女士说。

“但是，虐待和骚扰绝不能被视为工作中不可避免的一部分。”

三分之二的人目睹或经历过虐待。

2023年，该工作组通过调查和焦点小组讨论，与3000多名医护人员和1500多名公众成员进行了交流。

接受调查的医护人员中，约有三分之二表示他们目睹或经历过虐待或骚扰，其中言语虐待最为普遍。

报告称，许多事件没有被上报，因为工人不清楚举报渠道，害怕遭到报复，或者认为这种待遇只是“工作的一部分”。

工作组于 2023 年启动了一个三方框架，该框架对虐待和骚扰行为设定了共同定义，并规范了医疗机构应对此类事件的方式。

所有公立医疗机构目前都设有专门的医护人员保护职能部门，包括首席健康官。机构可以对施暴者采取行动，包括发出警告、将其驱逐出院或将不需要紧急医疗救治的施暴患者解除医护人员资格限制。

已有超过6000名医护人员接受了高级冲突降级和自卫技巧培训。所有一线员工均接受基础培训，新入职医护人员也需接受基础培训。

威胁、性骚扰

这份长达23页的报告重点列举了几起虐待和骚扰事件。其中一起事件中，一名患者对一名工作人员发表了冒犯性的性言论，给该工作人员造成了精神痛苦。起初，她出于羞愧和担心追究此事会加重压力，不愿举报。

她获得了健康假和定期健康状况检查，并在报告过程中得到了支持。患者及其配偶被告知，这种行为是不可接受的，绝不容忍。

另一起事件中，新加坡国立大学医院的一名护士临床医生在告知病人父亲出于安全原因不允许在病房内使用电动代步车后，被病人父亲堵住。

据报道，该男子用一张心脏手术台挡住了她的出口，亮出针头和小刀，威胁她，并两次向她吐口水。医院对他进行了警告，报了警，并协助该护士申请了人身保护令。

工作组在 2025 年进行的一项调查发现，超过十分之九的公共机构医护人员认为他们的机构鼓励举报虐待和骚扰行为，并支持安全和尊重的工作环境。

在当年接受调查的公众中，86%的人表示，如果目睹此类针对医护人员的行为，他们会考虑介入。十分之九的人认为，每个人都应该为预防此类事件的发生尽一份力。

报告指出，随着工作组任期结束，由雇主主导的实践社区将继续保持发展势头。它将为医疗机构提供一个平台，用于分享经验、提升能力和交流最佳实践。

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