Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

6 Jul 2021

Take-up Rate of Sinovac Vaccine

As of 3 July 2021, 17,296 individuals had received one dose of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine.
The government reimburses providers for patients who cannot take mRNA vaccines due to medical reasons, with no charges to these individuals.
Two non-serious adverse event reports for Sinovac were received as of 29 June 2021, and monitoring continues for safety concerns.

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6 Jul 2021

Proposal to Subsidise Hospitalisation Costs for Birth Deliveries up to C-class Ward Rates in Public Hospitals for First Two Children of Each Singaporean Family

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed subsidising hospitalisation costs for birth deliveries up to C-class ward rates in public hospitals for the first two children of each Singaporean family, regardless of delivery location.
Ong Ye Kung explained that while government subsidies of up to 80% are available for inpatient treatment in B2 or C wards of public hospitals, subsidies are means-tested and not extended to A or B1 wards or private hospitals, including for maternity services.
All Singaporeans can use the MediSave Maternity Package to offset delivery costs, with daily hospital charge limits and procedure-based withdrawal limits for normal or complicated deliveries.
Additional support for children includes a $4,000 MediSave Grant for newborns, free childhood vaccinations and screenings, and Baby Bonus Cash Gift plus Government contributions to Child Development Account savings as part of the Marriage and Parenthood Package.

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6 Jul 2021

Data on Claims for Serious Pregnancy and Delivery-related Complications Covered by MediShield Life in Past Three Years

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked for the number and median age of patients with serious pregnancy and delivery complications covered by MediShield Life over the past three years.
Ong Ye Kung stated that MediShield Life began covering inpatient treatment for these complications from 1 April 2019.
Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, about 3,300 claims were covered, with a median patient age of 33 years old.

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6 Jul 2021

Measures to Prevent Clusters of COVID-19 Infection of Pre-schoolers Arising from Households Served with Leave of Absence, Stay-home Notice or Quarantine Order and School Fee Relief for Parents

The Ministry has enhanced safe management measures in preschools, including restricting entry for those on Leave of Absence (LOA), Stay-Home Notice (SHN), or Quarantine Order (QO), and requiring children and staff with symptoms to leave immediately and seek medical attention.
For households under quarantine, children and staff are issued LOA and can only return after the household member completes quarantine and, in some cases, tests negative for COVID-19, with classmates also encouraged to stay home during exposure periods.
Parents who keep children home due to LOA, SHN, or QO can appeal for flexibility on preschool subsidy attendance requirements and Child Care Financial Assistance on a case-by-case basis.

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6 Jul 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Aged 12-18

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Education to assure parents that there will be no pressure on children aged 12–18 to be vaccinated, that parents can indicate non-consent on forms, and that no Primary 6 child will be vaccinated before turning 12.
Chan Chun Sing responded that COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12–18 is strongly encouraged but voluntary, and MOE respects parents’ decisions, requiring them to opt in and provide consent for vaccination.
MOE reaches out to parents to inform them about vaccination opportunities and offer assistance, but only parents who want their children vaccinated need to respond.
Vaccination is only given to those aged 12 and above, with checks by MOE and service providers to verify age using ID documents before vaccination.
No student is included in vaccination by default, and MOE ensures that lack of information or support does not prevent any eligible student from getting vaccinated if parents wish.

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6 Jul 2021

Schools to Grant Students Excuse from Strenuous Physical Activity after Each Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine and Carry Out Active Monitoring of Students' Condition Post-Vaccination

Gerald Giam asked if schools will excuse students from strenuous physical activity for at least one week after each COVID-19 vaccine dose and if active monitoring for myocarditis or pericarditis symptoms will be done.
Chan Chun Sing responded that schools and Institutes of Higher Learning will excuse students from physical activity for one week after each vaccine dose, and PE and CCA teachers will check in with students before activities.
He added that parents and students are advised to watch for side effects like chest pain, shortness of breath, or abnormal heartbeats and seek medical attention promptly if they occur.
MOH and HSA are closely monitoring mRNA vaccine recipients and have issued circulars to medical practitioners to be vigilant in detecting heart-related inflammatory conditions.
MOE will continue collaborating with MOH and HSA to monitor students with adverse reactions and update guidelines as needed to ensure student safety.

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6 Jul 2021

Consideration to Change Average Class Size or Infrastructure of Primary and Secondary Schools to Better Equip Schools to Face Threat of Current and Future Pandemics

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether MOE will consider changing class sizes or school infrastructure to better prepare for current and future pandemics.
Chan Chun Sing responded that class size and infrastructure are not the most critical factors, emphasizing measures like hygiene, ventilation, safe management, and vaccination.
MOE will continue to adapt strategies based on medical advice and scientific evidence to ensure safe teaching and learning environments.

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6 Jul 2021

Plans for Global or Regional Immunity Passport to Ensure Authenticity of COVID-19 Vaccinations for Air Travel and Border Control

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for Transport about updates on plans for a global or regional immunity passport to ensure the authenticity of COVID-19 vaccinations for air travel and border control.
Minister S Iswaran stated that multilateral forums like the International Civil Aviation Organisation and regional groups such as ASEAN and APEC are exploring mechanisms for recognizing vaccination certificates, with Singapore actively participating and contributing expertise.
These multilateral and regional discussions are ongoing and will take time due to varying vaccination progress across countries, but they aim to facilitate reopening travel for vaccinated individuals when ready.
Singapore is concurrently engaged in bilateral discussions with countries like Australia, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea to establish mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, including exchanging public keys and specimen copies for verification.

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6 Jul 2021

Mental Health and Support System for Drivers of Public Transport

Dr Tan Yia Swam asked the Minister for Transport about mental health support systems for public transport drivers.
The Ministry and transport operators prioritize mental well-being, offering support channels through driver relations teams and trained supervisors who monitor workers and refer them to medical professionals.
The Health Promotion Board partners with unions and operators to provide customized mental well-being talks, workshops, and training programs for transport workers.
Transport workers can access public mental health resources like Mindline.sg and community hotlines for additional support.

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6 Jul 2021

Opportunistic Profiteering amongst Businesses during COVID-19 Pandemic

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked whether the Ministry of Trade and Industry monitored business practices for opportunistic profiteering during COVID-19 health measures and what safeguards exist to prevent it.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that the government monitors essential goods prices and investigated retailers, such as those raising mask prices, noting profiteering incidents are not widespread.
The government continues to work with companies to ensure supply and cites competition as the best safeguard, with the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore investigating price surges from anti-competitive behavior.
Consumers are encouraged to report cases of suspected profiteering to the authorities.

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6 Jul 2021

TraceTogether Infrastructure at Funeral Wakes

Joan Pereira raised concerns about the burden on families to manually record TraceTogether data for elderly attendees without the app or token at funeral wakes.
Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that TraceTogether-only SafeEntry is mandatory at funeral wakes due to higher risk, with infrastructure like SEGW boxes at parlours and QR codes for temporary spaces.
The Ministry has partnered the funeral industry to provide these facilities, but the decision to use funeral service providers for setup rests with the bereaved families.

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6 Jul 2021

Median and 90th Percentile Turnaround Time to Obtain Virus Whole Genome Sequencing Result from Time of COVID-19 Test

The Ministry of Health reported that the average turnaround time for whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 samples is seven days, similar to Australia and the United Kingdom, with delays possible for low viral load specimens.
From October 2020 to June 2021, whole genome sequencing helped link 111 previously unlinked cases to clusters, and all cluster investigations are supported by sequencing evidence when available.
Singapore is among a few countries, including Australia, that use whole genome sequencing for contact tracing, while most countries with high case numbers use it only on subsets to track variants, making direct comparisons with other healthcare systems difficult.

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6 Jul 2021

Detecting COVID-19 Virus in Built Environments

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked about the capabilities and usage of COVID-19 detection tests in built environments like air and surfaces, and their application in settings such as urban hotspots and Changi Airport terminals.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that while air and surface sampling detects viral material for investigations, it is not used for routine surveillance due to low detection in public spaces, whereas wastewater testing is effective for surveillance in residential areas like HDB blocks.
The Minister added that at Changi Airport, wastewater testing is less useful, so the focus is on Rostered Routine Testing of staff, and guidelines on cleaning and ventilation are in place to reduce transmission risks.

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6 Jul 2021

Airflow and Ventilation Analysis for Existing and New Buildings and Hospitals to Minimise Transmission of COVID-19 and Emerging Pathogens

Multiple agencies, including NEA and BCA, possess expertise in analyzing airflow, ventilation, and particle movement in buildings, with BCA focusing on ACVM systems.
New healthcare facilities undergo airflow simulations during design to optimize orientation, natural ventilation, and meet stringent ACMV requirements for spaces like isolation rooms and operating theatres, which are tested for performance.
Existing healthcare facilities have regular air pressure and airflow tests for specific spaces, and MOH will continue working with hospitals to review and enhance ventilation in both existing and future facilities.

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6 Jul 2021

Progress of Enrolment of General Practitioners in Primary Care Network

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired about the enrolment progress of General Practitioners in Primary Care Networks (PCNs), whether the enrolment rate meets the Ministry's target, and the impact of strong PCNs on chronic disease management.
As of May 2021, 10 PCNs involving over 600 clinics and 875 GPs have been established, accounting for more than 50% of CHAS GP clinics and meeting the initial enrolment target.
Observations two years after PCN establishment showed improvements in chronic disease care adherence, such as increased rates of diabetic patients completing annual foot and eye screenings, with existing patients showing better adherence than new ones.
The Ministry is encouraged by early results and will continue working with PCNs to ensure patients' chronic conditions are well-controlled.

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6 Jul 2021

Limit of Five Distinct Visitors a Day for Home-based Businesses in Larger Premises

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if home-based businesses in larger premises can have more than five distinct visitors a day if they follow retail space guidelines.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that residential premises are primarily for living, and the visitor limit aims to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks to household members.
He noted that home-based businesses have different exposure risks than retail stores, as customers may interact with household members.
The rule applies regardless of home size, visitor type, or business nature, prioritizing household and community safety.
The government maintains the five-visitor limit to contain COVID-19 spread while acknowledging the unique context of home-based operations.

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6 Jul 2021

Enhancing Support for Singaporeans Who Wish to Conceive but Are Unable to Do So under Current Conventions

The government reaffirms its commitment to supporting married couples who wish to conceive, with a focus on early family planning and fertility health.
Policies have been enhanced, including the removal of age limits for ART treatments and increased co-funding for ART and IUI procedures to improve affordability.
The government is engaging with fertility experts and couples through national conversations to better understand challenges and refine support for fertility health.
Public funds are targeted to balance support for couples with parenthood aspirations while ensuring responsible use of resources.
Feedback from engagements will inform ongoing reviews of fertility health support in Singapore.

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6 Jul 2021

Waste-handling in Housing Estates and Hospitals in light of Detection of COVID-19 Viral Fragments in Recent Clusters

The government detailed stringent measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission via wastewater, including disinfecting premises where infected individuals have been and designing sanitary systems as airtight, watertight closed systems with water seals to block pathogens.
Homeowners are urged to maintain their sanitary systems by checking for odors or leaks and using licensed plumbers, while hospital wastewater from isolation facilities is disinfected before discharge and staff handling used water wear personal protective equipment.
The water supply remains safe as wastewater undergoes rigorous treatment, including reverse osmosis and disinfection, to ensure all contaminants are removed and NEWater is free of viruses.

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6 Jul 2021

Swift Border Policy Response to Surge in Imported COVID-19 Cases

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about the number of Dependant's Passes issued in the past year, why they were not immediately barred during a surge in imported COVID-19 cases, and whether they could be delinked from Work Permits for more agile border policy revisions.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that entry approvals are calibrated based on the risk levels of countries, and preventing Dependant's Pass holders from entering could discourage Work Pass holders from staying in Singapore, thereby worsening manpower shortages.
The Minister noted that border restrictions since 2020 have separated families, and while businesses support health measures, additional disruptions from stricter family entry rules would be counterproductive.

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6 Jul 2021

Summons Issued for Failure to Wear Face Masks amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the number of summons issued for not wearing face masks and actions to encourage compliance.
Grace Fu Hai Yien reported that over 2,300 fines have been issued since mask-wearing became mandatory in April 2020.
She emphasized that masks with good filtration reduce droplet transmission and must be worn outside except during eating, drinking, or strenuous exercise.
Government agencies deploy Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers to advise and enforce mask-wearing, and businesses are required to ensure patron compliance.
Public outreach through newspapers and social media is used to encourage adherence to safe management measures and mask-wearing.

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