Debated in Parliament on 17 Aug 2015.
Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry will consider requiring all schools and educational institutions organising overseas trips for students and staff to purchase travel insurance which cover medical evacuation or treatment for pre-existing conditions.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Education): The Ministry of Education (MOE) already requires the schools that we directly supervise to purchase travel insurance that provides unlimited coverage for medical evacuations and repatriation expenses for overseas trips that are organised or endorsed by these schools. Similar arrangements are in place for the autonomous universities, polytechnics and the Institute for Technical Education.
Most travel insurance policies do not cover expenses, including those relating to evacuation or repatriation, that are incurred as a result of pre-existing conditions. Rather than to simply require all schools to purchase enhanced policies, MOE's approach has been to require schools to undertake a careful assessment when deciding whether their students or staff should participate in such overseas trips.
Where the pre-existing condition is serious or of a nature that makes it unsuitable for a student to go for the overseas trip, such as heart problems or epilepsy, alternative activities will be organised for the student. Where the pre-existing condition is less serious or can be managed safely with appropriate medication, schools will allow the student to participate in the overseas trip, provided, amongst other things, they are satisfied that the activities conducted are appropriate for the student and there are adequate medical facilities available at the destination to manage and support the student's pre-existing condition. The
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student's parents are also consulted to ensure that they are comfortable with the arrangements. A similar approach is adopted for school staff.
Dr Chia Shi-Lu.
I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the very comprehensive reply. The question is that there are probably some parents with children with pre-existing illnesses, but not of a very severe nature, who are agreeable to have their children participate in these overseas trips. But there might be concern that if something does happen of a medical nature to their children, the policies purchased for them by the school may not cover them for these illnesses. There certainly do exist policies out there which do cover pre-existing illnesses admittedly for a premium. But I do not think it is a prohibitive one. So, I would just like to ask again if MOE would consider giving this option to the schools in question. With regard to the cost, I suppose it is something that can be decided by the school or the parents or amongst both parties.
Madam, as I have said in my reply, we leave it to the schools to decide on whether a student or a staff member is fit or good enough for certain types of overseas trips. Some overseas trips can be very physically challenging, but some may not be. So, students with certain pre-existing medical conditions may be allowed or encouraged to take part in some overseas trips which may not require too much physical exertion.
However, if the physical condition or pre-existing medical condition may be serious, we would not allow such students or staff members to take part in the overseas trip. Of course, it is up to the individual families or staff members to decide on whether they want to take part in the activities, for which we do not disallow, or whether they want to buy additional travel insurance coverage. So far, as far as I know – and this was only done from the end of last year – there is only one insurer that provides additional travel insurance coverage, which means that the demand for such additional travel insurance coverage for pre-existing medical condition is relatively low.
Mr Pritam Singh.
Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, did the insurance coverage acquired by MOE for the ill-fated Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) Kota Kinabalu (KK) expedition include expenses related to medical treatment for injuries? Secondly, will MOE be setting up a fund to consider the prospect of reimbursing long-term injuries sustained by students as a result of the KK tragedy, if it has not already?
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I think, generally, yes, Madam. The travel insurance coverage includes accidents and treatment of injuries as a result of accidents, as well as repatriation. As for the treatment after the participating students or staff members have returned to Singapore, the travel insurance cover a portion of further treatment back at home up to a cap. So, I think this is a common industry practice.
Mr Pritam Singh.
I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. In the case of the second question, in the event that the cap is breached because of the nature of some of these injuries, will MOE consider at least assisting affected students and families with some compassionate assistance?
Madam, the Member may be aware that MOE has worked with the Temasek Cares for a programme to assist families to manage the cost of treatment after the insurance coverage cap has been reached. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education", Official Report, 18 August 2015, Vol 93, Issue No 23.]
Apart from that, there are also schemes to help other families which have been affected by the accidents involving the students and staff members of Tanjong Katong Primary School.
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