Royal Philips, a global leader in health technology, has announced findings from its study of 15 countries, the Future Health Index. It reveals the dedication and commitment of Singapore’s younger healthcare professionals to improve healthcare amidst COVID-19, and puts the spotlight on experiences and challenges that call for greater change within healthcare.

Now in its fifth year, this year’s survey is the first global survey of its kind on younger generation of healthcare professionals under the age of 40. The Future Health Index (FHI) 2020 report: ‘The age of opportunity: Empowering the next generation to transform healthcare’, paints a realistic picture of the state of healthcare systems on the eve of the COVID-19 crisis, covering nearly 3,000 respondents across 15 countries, including 100 in Singapore.

This puts the spotlight on local younger healthcare professionals, who will bear the responsibility of charting Singapore’s future healthcare needs. The findings reveal an exceptional attitude and belief in the work they do vis-à-vis their peers in the other countries surveyed, gaps between medical training and actual practice, and their optimistic outlook for healthcare’s digital future. Based on a follow up survey months into the pandemic, these perspectives were further strengthened by their experiences tackling COVID-19 in the past months.

The Future Health Index 2020 report identifies three core themes and critical findings:

Singapore’s younger doctors are more dedicated and firm believers in technology

At the onset of COVID-19, 81% of Singapore’s younger healthcare professionals said they are satisfied with their work, despite seeing more patients per week (116) than their peers in the United States (99) or Australia (76). Despite higher patient volumes, just 4% say work-related stress have made them consider leaving the profession, compared to 34% of those across the 15 countries surveyed, and those in the United States of America (46%) and Australia (22%). 

Gaps persist in career expectations and experiences of Singapore’s younger doctors

Despite their dedication to their patients and firm belief in the work they do, Singapore’s younger healthcare professionals are concerned about the skills gaps they face, and a shortfall in career reality compared to their expectations during their medical education (34%). Work-related stress, potentially leading to burnout, are also a reality for 82% younger healthcare professionals here, which could be impacted by the higher patient volumes they see per week.

Empowering Singapore’s younger healthcare professionals

Despite the challenges faced, the Future Health Index also identified a clear demand among this generation of younger healthcare professionals for a work environment that fosters collaboration and offers flexibility.