Family & gender

Saktiandi Supaat asked about the number and percentage of unsuccessful applications under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) over the past five years and whether married couples waiting for BTO flats receive priority for PPHS flats nearby. Desmond Lee stated that the PPHS provides temporary housing for families earning $7,000 or less while waiting for their HDB flats. The percentage of unsuccessful applications peaked at 77% during COVID-19 but has since decreased to 43% in 2023 due to increased flat supply, which is set to double again by 2025. HDB does not prioritize applicants for PPHS flats based on proximity to their booked BTO flats, instead prioritizing families with children under 18.

Hany Soh inquired about the rationale for the commencement date of the new shared parental leave scheme on 1 April 2025 and whether it could be brought forward or if alternative support would be provided for parents who would miss out. Indranee Rajah responded that the date was set after consultations with employers who needed time to prepare for the changes, ensuring readiness for the scheme's implementation. Parents expecting children before the scheme's start will still receive support through existing parental packages, including enhancements to the Baby Bonus and additional unpaid leave options. Indranee emphasized the importance of workplace culture and employer readiness in supporting the scheme's rollout, including training and resources for employers. Desmond Choo raised concerns about the potential burden on existing employees, to which Indranee suggested compensatory measures, hiring temporary staff, and leveraging technology to ease workloads during parental leave.

• Melvin Yong inquired whether the Ministry of Health tracks perinatal depression prevalence and requested statistics for the past five years.
• The Ministry of Health indicated it relies on local research studies to estimate prevalence, citing rates of 7% to 9% for antenatal depression and 6.8% to 10.4% for postnatal depression.

• Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for data over the past five years on the number of care and protection orders requiring parents to sign bonds, the number of bond breaches, and actions taken against breaching parents beyond bond forfeiture.
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the Youth Court does not track the requested data, but a breach of bond terms is an offence punishable by a fine up to $2,000.

• Joan Pereira asked when the next review of the $300 monthly basic subsidy for working mothers with Singapore citizen children in full-day childcare will be held and what factors will be considered for any increase.
• Masagos Zulkifli explained that the government regularly reviews preschool affordability and has enhanced it through other means, such as raising the income ceiling for additional subsidies and imposing fee caps on supported preschools.
• He noted that fee caps for full-day childcare at Anchor and Partner Operators were lowered in 2023, reducing household preschool expenses as a percentage of income, and further reductions are planned for 2025 and 2026.
• The government is also expanding the number of Government-supported preschool places, aiming for 80% coverage by 2025, which is seen as more effective than increasing the basic subsidy alone.
• Masagos emphasized that these broader measures have already lowered out-of-pocket expenses for most families and will continue to do so, making preschool more affordable without relying solely on subsidy adjustments.

• Ms Ng Ling Ling proposed allowing family members' MediSave to cover nursing home fees for elderlies with advanced-stage dementia after subsidies, especially for sandwich families with studying children.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung outlined existing support: means-tested subsidies of up to 75% for nursing home care and 80% for home care, MediSave Care withdrawals up to $200 per month for severe disability, and long-term care insurance like ElderShield and CareShield Life.
• For those still facing financial challenges, the Minister advised applying for financial assistance through schemes like MediFund.

• Joan Pereira proposed extending paid childcare leave to cover children up to age 12, citing the increased use of home-based learning in primary schools.
• Indranee Rajah explained that current policy already provides six days for children under seven and two days for those aged seven to twelve, with no plans to extend the age ceiling.
• She noted that home-based learning is not regular but occasional, and schools inform parents in advance to arrange care, while student care centres remain open.
• The government emphasizes balancing parental support with employers' operational needs and encourages flexible work arrangements, including upcoming mandatory guidelines starting December 2024.

• The Health Promotion Board will continue efforts with healthcare partners to raise awareness and address barriers to breast cancer screening, with mammograms fully subsidised for eligible Singapore Citizen enrollees under Healthier SG.
• The Ministry of Health is assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of selected cancer genetic tests among high-risk populations, and subsidies will be provided for tests found to be effective.
• National data shows that while 75% of women aged 50 to 69 have ever been screened, only 35% undergo regular biennial mammograms, indicating a need for increased uptake.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about the top symptoms leading to referrals at the Menopause Centre and the possibility of screening for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms under the Healthier SG movement. Ong Ye Kung responded that the most common symptoms for referrals include hot flushes, poor sleep, mood disorders, vaginal dryness, and sexual problems. He emphasized the importance of the primary care doctor-patient relationship under Healthier SG, stating that women experiencing menopausal symptoms should consult their doctors for appropriate assessment and management.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned the necessity for single unwed mothers to adopt their children to legitimize their parent-child relationship and inquired about any plans to review this requirement. Minister Masagos Zulkifli clarified that single unwed mothers do not need to adopt to access government benefits, which are available to all Singaporean children regardless of marital status. He acknowledged existing laws that differentiate based on legitimacy, reflecting societal norms favoring marriage. Unwed mothers have the option to legitimize their children through marriage or adoption, but should consider the implications of adoption, including the termination of paternal obligations.

Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked if the Ministry for Social and Family Development would provide resources for Student Care Centres (SCCs) to offer free placements for low-income children. Masagos Zulkifli explained that the Student Care Fee Assistance scheme (SCFA) offers subsidies of up to 98% of fees, making attendance affordable, with families paying as little as $5 per month after assistance. The SCFA is designed to ensure families contribute based on their means to foster individual responsibility. The Ministry will regularly review the SCFA to maintain affordability for lower-income families.

• Melvin Yong inquired about the occupancy rate of HDB flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) and the take-up rate of the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher since its launch on 1 July 2024.
• The occupancy rate for PPHS HDB flats is approximately 90%, with the remaining flats available for selection in the August 2024 application exercise.
• As of 30 July 2024, HDB received 90 applications for the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher.

• Dennis Tan asked about Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) programmes to support prison inmates in rebuilding familial ties with young children after release, or whether such programmes would be developed if none exist.
• Masagos Zulkifli stated that MSF and Singapore Prison Service collaborate on family support, with Family Resource Centres providing interim assistance and referrals to long-term community resources, using a family-centric approach.
• Structured family programmes in prisons, such as those by The Salvation Army and New Life Stories, help inmates build skills for maintaining family ties through parent-child activities and open visits.
• Counselling from the Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres supports offenders and families during and after incarceration, and ex-offenders can join parenting programmes post-release.

• The Ministry of Social and Family Development works with community partners like Family Service Centres and Child Protection Specialist Centres to coordinate case management, information sharing, and monitoring for vulnerable children.
• Personalised intervention plans are developed to address the child and family's needs, including counselling, trauma-focused support, parenting assistance, and educational development.
• Regular safety checks are conducted for at least 12 months after a child is returned to their family, with frequency tailored to each case.
• If parents deny access during safety checks, the Ministry can use legal powers under the Children and Young Persons Act to ensure the child's safety.
• The system emphasises close collaboration among agencies to protect children who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence.

• Edward Chia asked if the government will consider increasing the six days of annual childcare leave to support parents and encourage higher birth rates.
• Indranee Rajah replied that the government has progressively enhanced parental leave, recently doubling paternity leave and increasing unpaid infant care leave, and is studying further support for parents of infants.
• She noted that any leave increase must balance parental needs with employer manpower constraints and that flexible work arrangements and family-friendly workplace culture are also being promoted to support working parents.

• Hany Soh questioned the recent take-up rate for breast cancer screening and suggested expanding the Health Promotion Board’s Screen for Life programme by easing eligibility for free or subsidised screenings.
• Ong Ye Kung reported that close to 40% of women aged 50 to 69 underwent breast cancer screening in the past two years, citing the 2022 National Population Health Survey.
• He noted that breast cancer screenings under the national subsidised programme increased by almost 50% in the first half of 2024 compared to two years earlier, attributing the rise to Healthier SG, which allows eligible enrollees to access free screenings.

• The Ministry of Social and Family Development does not require mandatory qualifications for staff in Student Care Centres, but provides guidelines that operators may follow.
• Student Care Centres administering the Student Care Fee Assistance scheme must meet MSF standards on safety, health, supervision, and emergency preparedness, with regular audits and possible revocation of status for non-compliance.
• All centres and staff must comply with existing laws like the Children and Young Persons Act and are expected to have policies to ensure safeguarding.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim proposed increasing childcare leave for parents with two or more children to boost fertility, prompting the Government to outline recent enhancements and ongoing studies to balance parental support with employer needs.
• The Government doubled paternity leave and expanded unpaid infant care leave in 2024, and is currently exploring further parental leave support for infants with high care requirements.
• Any future leave adjustments will consider the impact on employers' manpower, with an emphasis on flexible work arrangements and family-friendly workplace cultures to help parents manage work and caregiving duties.
• The Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangements will be mandatory from December 2024 to facilitate discussions between employers and employees on sustainable work-care arrangements.
• The Government remains committed to working with tripartite and community partners to foster an environment that supports Singaporeans' marriage and parenthood aspirations.

• Dr. Tan Wu Meng highlighted that about 1,000 young cancer patients under 40 are diagnosed annually in Singapore, with fertility often compromised by life-saving treatments, and currently fertility preservation is not covered under MediShield Life or most insurance plans as it is deemed optional.
• He proposed that the government work with insurers to cover fertility preservation under Integrated Shield Plans, arguing it restores natural biological function similar to reconstructive surgery after accidents, and suggested front-loading government co-funding for unmarried patients who need egg freezing.
• Other recommendations included collaborating with banks to provide interest-free loans for young cancer patients facing cash flow issues, and enhancing philanthropic support through higher tax deductions or matching grants, similar to the Rare Disease Fund model.
• Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam acknowledged the challenges faced by young cancer patients and outlined existing government support, including co-funding for assisted reproduction treatments and MediSave use, while noting that MOH will study the proposals to extend support for fertility preservation.
• The debate concluded with Parliament adjourning, reflecting a commitment to continue reviewing policies to support the parenthood aspirations of all Singaporeans, including young cancer patients.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim sought clarification on the specific reasons for the cessation of gender confirmation surgery in public hospitals in 2014 and whether the Ministry plans to reinstate it with subsidies.
• Ong Ye Kung stated that gender reassignment surgery has been offered by public hospitals for medically necessary cases but was never part of any subsidy scheme.
• The debate highlights a focus on the historical provision and subsidy status of the surgery in public healthcare settings.