Health

• AMH and FSH fertility tests are not universal screenings but clinically indicated before ART.
• They are already recommended and subsidised when a doctor assesses medical need.
• Minister rejected adding universal screening at age 30/35 to Healthier SG.

• Ministry won’t centrally track all abuse case outcomes, citing KPI concerns.
• Institutions must own and implement protection policies for healthcare workers.
• Workers can raise specific non-police cases with Ministry for recourse.

• Longevity clinics must be licensed under HCSA and follow SMC ethical guidelines for evidence-based care.
• Non-standard treatments require clinical study approval; inspections and audits enforce compliance.
• Public urged to discuss evidence-based options and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

• Study finds higher depression, anxiety rates among migrant domestic workers.
• MOM implements multi-pronged support, including screenings, counseling, and community assistance.
• MOM partners with NGOs to train peer support and amplify help channels.

• Government reassesses suicide reporting safeguards amid social media amplification risks.
• Mainstream media responsibly includes helplines; IMDA requires platforms to limit harmful content.

• Dennis Tan urged subsidies for standalone therapies for autistic children under 12, awaiting diagnosis.
• Masagos noted formal assessment is required before EIPIC; standalone therapies can use Child Development Account.
• Special education schools and mainstream schools provide in-school therapeutic support for students with special needs.

• About eight in ten nursing graduates enter the profession, with seven in ten retained after five years.
• Nursing intake has increased but has limits; retention, mid-career recruits, and foreign nurses will help meet 2030 targets.

• MOH lacks data on minors facing parental consent barriers to mental health services.
• Parental consent issues affect minors across income levels, prompting guideline development.
• Concerns noted for minors in violent or out-of-home care situations.

• Ms He Ting Ru queried if new mental health guidelines will consider gender-specific differences and higher anxiety rates in adolescent girls.
• The Health Minister affirmed guidelines aim to balance timely access to mental health support for all youths with necessary parental involvement and safeguards.

• MOH does not track IVF usage rates for EEF eggs or overseas procedures.
• Marriage requirement for IVF remains, aligning with societal norms for family units.
• No plans to remove marriage rule for using frozen eggs in IVF.

• Ministry approves about 70% of egg freezing appeals from women over 37, assessed case-by-case with published criteria.
• Removing the age limit is not advised due to declining egg quality and pregnancy chances.
• Success depends on multiple factors, including implantation age and couple’s health.

• Dr. Hamid Razak requested session breakdown for COMIT and CREST programmes.
• Minister Ong reported 2024 case numbers and discharge rates.
• Ministry does not track drop-outs or discontinuation reasons.

• The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health sees average 25 medical professionals yearly, with potential expansion if demand rises.
• It trains doctors to diagnose and manage mental conditions, supporting community-based care and enabling more family physicians.

Minister outlines current schemes like EASE and SMF for seniors’ home modifications and assistive devices. Eligibility focuses on daily living needs, not specific disabilities, and the number of seniors living alone with severe mobility loss is not tracked. Existing pathways allow therapists to recommend and apply for these subsidies.

• NKF serves 90% of subsidized community dialysis patients. While the reliance on one provider is understood, the Ministry welcomes more non-profits to strengthen and diversify the overall service ecosystem.
• The government will partner with additional non-profit providers to enter the dialysis sector, strengthening the overall ecosystem and reducing reliance on a single major player like the National Kidney Foundation.

• Regular reminders are sent before certificate expiry; three elderly offenders noted between 2023-2025.
• Senior practitioners may designate family for administrative support on certificate renewals.
• Practitioners must cease practice immediately upon certificate expiry until renewal.

• Education Ministry teaches all students to care for peers and seek help from trusted adults.
• Peer Support Leaders receive training to offer comfort and escalate concerns, not to diagnose or counsel.
• Teachers regularly support these student leaders to ensure their well-being and capacity development.

• A MP asked if mitochondrial replacement (3-person IVF) could be an option for couples needing assisted reproductive technology. The Ministry of Health will study the evidence and ethical implications of this procedure to prevent passing mitochondrial diseases from mothers to their children.

• Dennis Tan seeks subsidies for private therapy for autistic children, especially middle-income families.
• Minister outlines existing EIPIC/P schemes with means-tested caps and CDA use for extra services.
• Government recommends ECDA-registered providers, tailored plans, and considers feedback on therapy hours.

• The SAF collaborates with external social partners and is piloting a case management system to provide comprehensive support for NSFs with psychosocial needs.
• Authorities will explore improving communication between public healthcare and the SAF and enhancing commander training to better identify and refer NSFs to support services.