SINGAPOREANS can expect better care at public hospitals, which will be employing more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Their numbers are set to go up by 40 per cent over the next five years.

There is also good news for these professionals: they will be paid more to prevent a brain-drain to other countries or other work.

The demand for healthcare workers will rise with three more hospitals opening by 2011.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament on Monday during the debate on his ministry's budget: 'We will face a worsening staff shortage. Our specialists are trained in the top centres around the world. They are much sought after.'

Therapists, too, will be in big demand, and not just in healthcare. The hospitality sector is eyeing them to give well-heeled patrons spa-care.

'We need to keep them in healthcare with comparable pay and working conditions,' said the minister.

Over the next five years, the ministry will spend $1.9 billion to add more staff as well as boost their pay.

Two MPs who are government doctors had raised concerns that patients would suffer if restructured hospitals could not retain enough people.

Dr Lam Pin Min of KK Women's and Children's Hospital had asked the minister for assurance that the average person here would not be 'sidelined' as medical tourism grew.

Singapore is targeting one million medical tourists by 2012. Dr Lam said they will spend $2.4 million and create jobs for 13,000 people.

The public sector where doctors and nurses are 'overworked' and 'under-remunerated' has been losing people to private enterprise.

Dr Fatima Lateef of Singapore General Hospital spoke of the high patient to doctor ratio here, compared to countries like Australia.

Mr Khaw assured them that the recruitment drive is on. Last year alone saw 668 new doctors - 230 fresh graduates from the National University and 438 overseas-trained doctors.

He also plans to offer 120 scholarships - double the current number - to train allied health workers like physiotherapists or speech therapists.