Frontline Workers Question Missing COVID-19 Resilience Medals; MOH Responds
It seems that the topic of COVID-19 Resilience Medals continues to be a prominent subject this month.
For those who may be unaware, these medals were awarded to 100,000 individuals in recognition of their contributions during the pandemic. The medals were distributed during a carnival at the F1 Pit Building.
What initially began as a well-intentioned gesture of appreciation has found itself embroiled in controversy.
In the middle of this month, it came to light that some people were selling these medals on Carousell, a development that was rightly condemned by the Prime Minister’s office. They emphasized that these medals hold national significance and should be treated with the utmost respect.
Moreover, an Instagram account named @thehonesthealthcareworker, managed by a group of anonymous healthcare professionals, echoed similar sentiments.
In an Instagram post, they emphasised that these awards were intended as a recognition for the effort and bravery of healthcare workers. They felt that selling these medals diminished the significance of the sacrifices made by frontliners.
But the story doesn’t end there. Just three days ago, the Instagram account posted an open letter to Ministry of Health (MOH), inquiring why over 100 frontline workers did not receive the aforementioned medals.
Details of the Open Letter
In their open letter addressed to Minister Ong and MOH, anonymous healthcare workers questioned why they were omitted from the list of awardees.
They asserted that their names had been overlooked despite working side by side with their colleagues since the beginning of the pandemic. Their ranks included doctors who worked in isolation wards, ambulance drivers who transported COVID-19 patients and countless others whose dedication is too numerous to name.
They expressed their profound disappointment upon discovering that their names were absent from the full list of awardees.
The letter further revealed that they were unaware of the nomination process or whether a specific criteria had to be met for eligibility. The letter conveyed a sense of indignation as they pointed out that doctors who had avoided entering pandemic wards received awards, while those who were directly involved in caring for COVID patients did not.
The letter concluded with an emphasis that they bore no ill towards those who received the awards. They simply wished to be remembered and recognised for the sacrifices and hard work they dedicated to the cause.
You can view the full letter here:
Here’s what MOH said in response to the letter.
In response to the letter, MOH acknowledged to TODAY on 20 December that not everyone who contributed to combat the pandemic were awarded with the medal.
MOH clarified that while there was a rigorous nomination process, they made every effort to be as inclusive as possible.
Although no specific quotas were established for the number of individuals receiving the award, eligibility criteria were firmly in place.
MOH stated that, to qualify for the award, one had to manage the public health crisis at frontlines. This included supporting frontline operations through vaccinations, testing, managing dorms or recovery facilities, or managing the consequences of COVID-19 on Singapore’s economy, supply chains or social cohesion.
Between October 2022 to March 2023, public and private healthcare institutions and relevant industry partners were told to submit their nominations along with justifications.
They had to ensure that the nominees had consistently managed high workloads exceptionally during the pandemic. Furthermore, MOH continued to add more awardees from the healthcare sectors till the end of August, in response to appeals.
MOH concluded their statement by extending heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had contributed and made sacrifices to keep Singapore safe. They acknowledged that it was a “whole-of-society effort” that enabled Singapore to effectively manage the challenges posed by the pandemic.