Number of Patients Treated in Polyclinics and CHAS Clinics for Chronic Conditions Not Included in Chronic Disease Management Programme in Last Five Years

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health in each of the last five years, how many patients have been treated in polyclinics and CHAS clinics for chronic conditions that are not one of the 20 chronic conditions included the Chronic Disease Management Programme.

The number of patients treated in polyclinics for chronic conditions not under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) from 2014 to 2018 are shown in Table 1. Allergic rhinitis and soft tissue disorders were some examples of non-CDMP chronic conditions seen.

MOH does not have comprehensive data on patients with non-CDMP chronic conditions who are treated at Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) GP clinics, as we do not collect data for patient visits where CDMP/CHAS subsidies are not claimed.

CDMP was introduced to help patients manage their chronic conditions well and reduce out-of-pocket costs through the use of Medisave. MOH regularly reviews the list of conditions covered under CDMP to meet the needs of Singaporeans, while ensuring that Medisave balances are not prematurely depleted.

We have increased the coverage of chronic conditions under CDMP and by extension, CHAS coverage, from 15 conditions in 2014 to 19 conditions in 2015, and then to 20 conditions in 2018.

Conditions for CDMP are selected in consultation with clinical experts in a CDMP Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC), based on various considerations, such as disease prevalence, effectiveness of early intervention to reduce complications and availability of clear guidelines to support their coverage under CDMP. MOH will continue to work with the CDMP CAC to review the conditions to be covered under CDMP.

Patients with chronic conditions not covered under CDMP can still tap on the usual subsidies at polyclinics as well as CHAS Acute subsidies at CHAS GPs for the management of their conditions. Patients who face financial difficulties for the management of their chronic conditions, regardless of whether such conditions are included in the CDMP, can tap on financial assistance, including MediFund, at public healthcare institutions.