Reports of abuse and harassment against healthcare workers at Singapore's public healthcare institutions nearly doubled from about 2,200 cases in 2023 to 4,200 in 2025, highlighting growing awareness and willingness among workers to report unacceptable behaviour.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that police reports involving healthcare worker abuse and harassment also increased, from about 350 cases in 2023 to 550 in 2025.
However, the Tripartite Workgroup for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment of Healthcare Workers said the increase in reported cases does not necessarily indicate that such incidents have become more prevalent.
Instead, the workgroup said the figures are consistent with greater awareness of what constitutes abuse and harassment, alongside greater confidence among healthcare workers to speak up and take action.
The findings were published in Standing Together: Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare in Singapore, which documents the workgroup's four-year effort to strengthen protections for healthcare workers.
Two in three workers experienced or witnessed abuse
The workgroup was established in 2022 amid concerns over the safety and well-being of healthcare workers.
A 2023 survey involving more than 3,000 healthcare workers found that about two in three had either experienced or witnessed abuse or harassment. Verbal abuse was among the most common forms.
At the time, some incidents went unreported because workers were unclear about reporting channels, feared repercussions or viewed such behaviour as part of working in healthcare.
The workgroup subsequently introduced a tripartite framework in 2023 establishing a common definition of abuse and harassment and standardising how healthcare institutions should respond.
Public healthcare institutions now have dedicated functions to protect healthcare workers, including chief wellness officers.
Depending on the circumstances, institutions can issue warnings, remove perpetrators from their premises or discharge abusive patients who do not require urgent medical care.
More than 6,000 healthcare workers have also received advanced training in de-escalation and self-defence techniques, while basic training is provided to frontline employees and included in onboarding for new healthcare workers.
Cases highlight range of risks
The report documents incidents ranging from verbal and sexual harassment to threats and physical intimidation.
In one case, a patient made offensive remarks towards a healthcare worker, leaving her distressed and initially reluctant to report the incident. She subsequently received wellness leave and regular well-being check-ins, alongside support through the reporting process.
In another case, a nurse clinician at National University Hospital was confronted by a patient's father after explaining that mobility scooters were not permitted in the ward for safety reasons.
According to the report, the man blocked her exit with a cardiac table, displayed a needle and penknife, threatened her and spat at her twice. The hospital issued a warning, made a police report and supported the nurse in applying for a personal protection order.
Organisations and bystanders have a role
The workgroup's 2025 survey found that more than nine in 10 healthcare workers at public institutions believed their organisations encouraged reporting of abuse and harassment and supported a safe and respectful workplace.
Public attitudes also showed support for intervention. About 86 per cent of members of the public surveyed said they would consider stepping in if they witnessed abuse or harassment against a healthcare worker, while nine in 10 said everyone had a role to play in preventing such behaviour.
Singapore's Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said difficult interactions can be part of healthcare work, particularly when patients and caregivers are anxious or frustrated, but abuse and harassment should not be treated as an inevitable part of the profession.
With the workgroup's term ending on 30 June, an employer-led Community of Practice will continue the work by giving healthcare organisations a platform to share experiences, strengthen capabilities and exchange practices for preventing abuse and harassment.