Debated in Parliament on 1 Mar 2021.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health what are the standard operating protocols in place to ensure that all patients suffering from eligible chronic diseases are informed about the option of applying for the Chronic Disease Management Programme.
Medical institutions accredited for the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), including all public specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics as well as participating private clinics, are required as part of their accreditation to inform eligible patients that they are able to tap on CHAS chronic subsidies and/or MediSave for treatment of their CDMP conditions. This will help patients to offset out-of-pocket payments. There is no need for patients to apply for the CDMP.
The Silver Generation Office (SGO) also conducts outreach to share with seniors about the CDMP and CHAS subsidies, and encourage eligible seniors to seek treatment at accredited clinics. As of 31 December 2020, there are more than 1,150 GP clinics that are both CHAS and CDMP-accredited. This forms a good network of accredited clinics island-wide, which enables seniors to better access the healthcare services needed for the management of their chronic conditions.
We will continue to improve our outreach programmes to improve public awareness of the CDMP and its benefits.
PAPERCUTS