Call for Support from Dentists and Oral Health Therapists in SG Healthcare Corps

28 April 2020

Call for dental professionals to join SG Healthcare Corps. Learn how dentists and oral health therapists can contribute their skills to support Singapore's healthcare response efforts.

Dear Fellow Dentists and Oral Health Therapists,

This call for support goes out to all dentists and oral health therapists who are not currently practising, or are practising as locums or in private practice.

2. On 23 January 2020, the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 infection in Singapore. Since then, dentists and oral health therapists have stepped forward to offer their time and expertise in this battle against COVID-19. Many have been progressively deployed to conduct swab tests at foreign worker dormitories. As the public healthcare system ramps up services to address the escalating COVID-19 situation, we will need a bigger reserve pool of dentists and oral health therapists.

3. The Ministry of Health has set up the SG Healthcare Corps to support our healthcare and community care professionals in this fight. I would like to appeal for your support to join the SG Healthcare Corps in the fight against COVID-19 to protect the people in Singapore. We are preparing for all scenarios and are reaching out in advance of a potential surge in demand for dentists and oral health therapists for wider-scale swab testing needs on the ground. If you are able to contribute, we seek your help to come forward and to let us know your availability via the form at go.gov.sg/shc-dental.

4. If you are aware of any fellow dentists or oral health therapists who are keen and able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate your help to forward this email and also invite them to #standby4SG together.

5. I recognise that these are trying times for everyone, but I am confident that, as skilled and dedicated professionals, you can rise to the challenge. With your continued support, we will get through this. I thank you for your help as we stand together in solidarity against this pandemic.

6. If you have any queries or clarifications, I encourage you to refer to the FAQs at healthcarecorps.gov.sg. Please do not hesitate to contact us at shc@moh.gov.sg.

Warm Regards,

A/Prof Chng Chai Kiat
Chief Dental Officer / Ministry of Health
Registrar / Singapore Dental Council