Child Eczema Cases in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the number of children suffering from eczema in Singapore in the past five years; (b) whether the number of such cases has increased; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider including eczema as a claimable medical condition under the chronic disease subsidy scheme.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not routinely track the total number of children with eczema in Singapore. Between 2010 and 2013, about 1% of children below 16 years of age attended our polyclinics and public sector specialist clinics for eczema each year, but others may have been treated by GPs or specialists in the private sector.

The Medisave for Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) was introduced in 2006 to improve outpatient chronic disease management through evidence-based structured Disease Management Programmes. Medisave may be used to pay for outpatient treatment of conditions covered under the CDMP which helps patients to reduce their out-

Page: 146

of-pocket payments.

The coverage of CDMP has been expanded over the years and now covers 15 common chronic conditions. These conditions were selected based on various considerations, such as disease prevalence and effectiveness of early intervention to reduce complications. The selection criteria continue to be refined to better meet the healthcare needs of patients, while bearing in mind the need to ensure sufficient Medisave balances to meet our lifetime healthcare needs.

There is currently no plan to include eczema in the CDMP. Subsidies for eczema treatment are widely available for all Singaporeans at the polyclinics and subsidised specialist outpatient clinics (SOCs), and for lower- to middle-income Singaporeans at GP clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). Singaporeans with difficulties managing their medical bills despite Government subsidies can also approach the Medical Social Workers (MSWs) at the public institutions for assistance.