House officer Telegram helpline chatbot
The SMA Doctors-in-Training (DIT) Committee recently created an SMA House Officer (HO) Support Programme Helpline chatbot on Telegram to provide support to HOs by consolidating useful resources they may require through their first year in the hospital wards, as well as addressing some of their queries.
Users will be able to download helpful materials (eg, SMA's HO Handbook), access mental health resources, or even talk to someone. The chatbot is manned by volunteer doctors.
The chatbot can be accessed by searching for @smahospbot in the Telegram app, or by scanning the QR code below.
If you need professional assistance, please reach out to:
Meeting with Dr Koh Poh Koon on junior doctors workforce issues
Representatives from the SMA DIT Committee met with Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Manpower, Dr Koh Poh Koon, on 23 February 2022. Participants discussed various challenges faced by the junior doctors workforce such as working hours, feeling underappreciated and the uncertainty in their career paths. Even with current efforts by the MOH and MOH Holdings (MOHH) in addressing these issues systematically, there remain residual gaps in these efforts. At the end of the discussion, SMS Koh, MOH, MOHH and SMA committed to having quarterly meetings to discuss and work towards resolving junior doctors workforce issues.
National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors
MOH has convened a National Wellness Committee for Junior Doctors to comprehensively study and review junior doctor wellness. Examples of areas under review are working conditions, work hours, career development and support mechanisms. SMA welcomes the formation of this committee, and the SMA Council and DIT Committee are represented in some workstreams under the committee.
Webinar on COVID-19 infection and vaccination for children
SMA was a supporting organisation for the webinar titled "Update on COVID-19 Infection in Children and Dialogue with MOH on COVID-19 Vaccination for Children 5 to 11 Years Old" held on 4 December 2021.
Participants were provided with an update on COVID-19 infection in children, including management of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and a panel discussion on COVID-19 vaccination for children aged five to 11 years old.
Panellists from MOH; College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Singapore; and Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination contributed to a fruitful discussion.