Stockpile and Distribution of N95 Masks

Mdm Speaker, the public is advised to follow the recommendations in the health

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advisories issued by Ministry of Health (MOH) from time to time during a haze situation. N95 masks are, generally, not needed for short exposures, such as commuting from home to school or work. They are also not needed in an indoor environment.

Nevertheless, N95 masks are currently available at major retail outlets. When needed, we would release our stock to the major retailers to meet public demand. We have also worked with the People's Association on plans to distribute the N95 masks to the needy through grassroots organisations. The criteria for the distribution of masks will be reviewed, together with the relevant Ministries.

I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I believe that I have also asked for what is the stock level that is in our stockpile now. Last year, it was nine million. So, has that level been adjusted based on the learning experience from last year? Also, I would like to know: for last year, what was the lowest level the stockpile ever reached, after the releasing of the masks from our stockpile into the major retail outlets? And I would also like to ask if, within our stockpile, the Ministry has taken into consideration now the need for children-sized masks and whether there have been suppliers found for these masks. Finally, is there any learning experience that will now be taken into consideration in terms of catering to the workers who need to work during prolonged periods of haze?

Madam, I would like to thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I mentioned earlier in my answer that there are currently available N95 masks at major retail outlets. If we look at the inventory of the major retailers, we have about 283,000 N95 masks in their inventory. Nevertheless, for the national stockpile, we have 16 million N95 masks, of which we have forward position of about 1.7 million to our retailers as well as the CCs and Zuellig Pharma, in preparation for the volcano haze in January 2014. Certainly, we have sufficient masks available. In fact, in the last few days, I went around to the retailers and I saw that their masks were readily available. I also spoke to the people I met and some of them shared with me that they have the mask at home.

The other aspect that the Member asked was the masks for children: there are currently no children N95 masks available in the market. As I mentioned earlier, it is important for us to see how the situation goes. Essentially, as I had mentioned earlier, N95 masks are generally not needed for short exposures, such as commuting from home to school and to work. They are not needed in

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the indoor environment.

Nevertheless, we are very mindful of our workers, especially those who perform the essential services. We have worked with organisations to look at how we can facilitate the distribution and usage of the N95 masks when the haze situation comes to an unhealthy situation. They are very mindful of the welfare of their workers.

Above all, it is important for us to work together as a society. We have learned from past lessons and experiences. It is a journey that we take on incident after incident. I am very confident that we are more prepared this time.