A paramedic who conveyed the injured during the Little India riots, and a medical social worker who shielded his junior colleague and a patient from an angry woman wielding a knife were among two healthcare workers awarded on Wednesday.

A record number of 76 workers from 26 public and private healthcare institutions were honoured at the annual Healthcare Humanity Awards ceremony attended by President Tony Tan and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. The awards celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. A new category, the Honourable Mention Award, was started this year.

"This award recognises those who have gone beyond their call of duty and ventured into humanitarian efforts, either locally or beyond our shores, some of whom who have demonstrated immense courage," said Professor Chee Yam Cheng, Group Chief Executive Officer of The National Healthcare Group. "We want to recognise those altruistic to the cause," he added.

Recipients of the Healthcare Humanity Award get $1,500 while those who received the Honourable Mention Award get an additional $500.

"We are just doing our jobs, but knowing you make a difference really counts," said 24-year-old paramedic Ms Nurulelfyana Binte Badrulhisham from Unistrong Technology, a private ambulance operator. She received the Honorable Mention Award for assisting the injured in the Little India riots.

Since its inception in 2004, the Award has given more than $1 million to 517 healthcare workers. It was originally established to recognise the efforts of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) healthcare workers but continued after.

The ceremony also saw the debut of A Time Like This, a tune sang by singers including Clement Chow and Rahimah Rahim to promote active ageing.