Controversy surrounds Singapore’s COVID-19 Resilience Medal distribution, sparking debates on eligibility and recognition

SINGAPORE: On 17 December, the @thehonesthealthcareworker Instagram account posted an open letter addressing Minister Ong Ye Kung and the Ministry of Health (MOH), highlighting the concerns of frontliners who feel overlooked in the national award recognition process.

These dedicated workers, who tirelessly contributed throughout the pandemic, expressed their sense of being unrecognized by the country in the distribution of national awards.

The open letter also called upon the MOH to provide clarity on the nomination process for the awards.

This request was prompted by reports of individuals selling their COVID-19 award medals on Carousell.

In response to the health workers’ open letter, the Ministry of Health acknowledged on Wednesday (20 Dec) that not everyone who played a role in Singapore’s fight against the pandemic received a COVID-19 Resilience Medal.

The MOH emphasized its commitment to inclusivity while maintaining rigorous standards in the award nomination process, as reported by TODAY.

Over 110,000 individuals have been awarded COVID-19 Resilience Medals for their significant contributions to Singapore’s battle against the pandemic.

The medals were distributed during a carnival event at the F1 Pit Building from December 10 to 14.

The MOH, in its efforts to be as inclusive as possible, clarified that there were no quotas set on the number of people receiving the award.

In contrast to the MOH’s position, @thehonesthealthcareworker shared the case of Dr Sanjeev Shanker on Thursday (21 Dec), an Emergency Medicine Specialist actively involved in Singapore’s pandemic response.

In an email shared by the Instagram account, Dr Sanjeev questioned his ineligibility for the COVID Resilience Medal despite significant contributions since the start of the pandemic, with the page highlighting the omission and noting his prominent role in COVID-19 vaccine promotion by the Singapore government.

They clarified that their intention was not to seek fame or attention for healthcare workers but to emphasize the need for equal treatment and rightful recognition of those who genuinely served on the frontlines.

The page urged the Ministry to create a channel for overlooked individuals to come forward and be rightfully recognized for their sacrifice and service.

Community discussion sparks questions on COVID-19 Resilience Medal criteria

An open discussion unfolded in the comments section of @thehonesthealthcareworker’s post, where a user named hattaong attempted to provide a rationale for Dr Sanjeev Shanker not receiving the awards.

Speculating that Dr Sanjeev might have left the public healthcare service before the inception and execution of the medal idea, hattaong suggested that, based on appearances, only those still within the public healthcare system were recipients of the medal, while those who had departed received neither the medal nor official recognition.

He also highlighted that this could be the reason behind stories circulating about staff who may have never set foot in the COVID ward but still received a medal, possibly due to their affiliation with the public healthcare system.

Another user responded, expressing agreement with hattaong’s hypothesis, citing personal experience of leaving the public healthcare system at the end of September 2022 and subsequently being excluded from the nomination process that began in October 2022.

However, a different user contradicted this view, asserting that it is not limited to the public sector; individuals in the private sector also received the medal.

Expressing outrage at Dr Sanjeev’s exclusion despite his sacrifices, she emphasized that oversight in such cases is unacceptable.

The discussion continued with another user pointing out that there were instances of individuals who had left the healthcare sector but still received the medal.

They cautioned against generalizing without concrete evidence and shared that they knew peers who had left and received the award under their former institutions.

A healthcare worker actively involved in the discussion disclosed that she was one of the forgotten individuals still working in healthcare within the same hospital.

Amidst ongoing discussions, questions have arisen regarding the clarity of the criteria for COVID-19 Resilience Awards, prompting speculation within the community.

As reported by TODAY, The Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided some insight into the eligibility requirements, stating that individuals deserving of the award must have, on a sustained basis throughout the pandemic, played a role in managing the public health crisis on the frontlines, supported frontline operations, or addressed the consequences of COVID-19 on various facets of Singapore’s society, including the economy, supply chains, or social cohesion.

Reddit users express discontent over Ministry of Health’s medal distribution amid calls for inclusive recognition in the healthcare sector

On Reddit, discussions regarding the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) statement garnered various comments from users.

One redditor expressed the view that MOH should have awarded medals to everyone in the healthcare industry who worked during the Covid period, including non-frontliners who also faced challenges.

The user criticized MOH, stating, “MOH recognizes that it’s a whole-of-society effort but can’t spare some medals for most of it – what a joke.”

Another redditor drew attention to a specific statement from MOH, quoting, “..MOH acknowledged on Wednesday (Dec 20) that not everyone who contributed to Singapore’s fight against infectious diseases were awarded the medal, ‘that is why we always emphasize that awards to leaders and organizations are always received for everyone who worked in the teams.'”

This user likened the situation to soldiers going to war and the general receiving a medal while those on the frontlines face the consequences.

In a more critical tone, one redditor argued for medals specifically for nurses and doctors who worked in the wards, rather than for leaders overseeing them.

The user went further, stating that the individuals responsible for deciding who receives medals should be fired.

They emphasized the paradox of relying on healthcare workers during crises and then neglecting them once the challenging work is completed.

The redditor concluded with a pointed remark about how this approach fails to show genuine appreciation for the efforts of nurses and doctors, stating, “Nice way to show them how much Singapore really appreciates their efforts.”

These comments on Reddit reflect a range of opinions and sentiments regarding the perceived shortcomings in the recognition and distribution of medals within the healthcare sector.