Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

5 Jul 2021

Support Measures for Phase Two (Heightened Alert) and Phase Three (Heightened Alert)

The Minister outlined the impact of the Delta variant and Singapore’s calibrated response, including Phase Two and Phase Three (Heightened Alert) measures, which targeted high-risk sectors while allowing most of the economy to operate, leading to a gradual easing of restrictions from mid-June to July 2021.
A $1.2 billion support package was introduced to aid affected businesses and individuals, featuring enhanced Jobs Support Scheme, rental relief, and temporary income support, funded through reallocating existing Budget 2021 resources rather than drawing on past reserves.
Singapore’s fiscal approach emphasizes sustainability, with SMEs receiving targeted support such as extended loan schemes, and the government committed to accelerating vaccinations, reopening borders safely, and investing in digitalization and green initiatives for post-pandemic recovery.

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5 Jul 2021

Proposal to Set Up Commission of Inquiry to Review Government's Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The government has committed to conducting a comprehensive after-action review (AAR) to learn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic response, but it argues that a Commission of Inquiry is not suitable as the pandemic is an ongoing and evolving crisis.
The Senior Minister explained that a COI is best for singular, past events, while the AAR will be broad-ranging and designed to encourage candid feedback from all participants, including the public, after the situation stabilizes.
Pritam Singh pressed for clarity on the AAR's form and public participation, noting that other countries have already launched formal inquiries, but the government has yet to determine the exact structure of its review.

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11 May 2021

Statistics on Number of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Cases and Pre-school Closures to Break Cycle of Transmission

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for current HFMD case numbers, pre-schools with active clusters, annual closures over five years, and the rationale for closure decisions.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M reported 78 HFMD cases in the last week of April 2021 and six pre-school clusters being monitored, noting that closures have limited effect due to community transmission.
The Ministry emphasized that early detection, isolation, and hygiene are key to controlling HFMD, with pre-schools required to follow preventive guidelines like health checks and disinfection.
Pre-school closures are decided case-by-case based on severity, virus strain, and transmission dynamics, with only two closures mandated from 2016 to 2020.
Regulatory actions such as financial penalties can be taken against pre-schools that breach infectious disease prevention requirements.

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11 May 2021

Provision of Home Caregiving Grant to Care Recipients Living Alone but Rely on Persons Residing Separately from Them

Murali Pillai inquired whether care recipients living alone but relying on caregivers residing elsewhere could receive the Home Caregiving Grant (HCG).
Gan Kim Yong explained that the HCG, introduced in October 2019, provides a $200 monthly cash grant for eligible individuals with permanent moderate disability.
Eligibility requires Singapore citizenship or permanent residency with family ties, need for assistance with at least three Activities of Daily Living, income or residence value limits, and living in the community.
Care recipients living alone but depending on separate caregivers qualify if they meet all the stated criteria.
The HCG can be used flexibly for various caregiving expenses.

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11 May 2021

Breakdown of Number of Body Dismorphic Disorder and Eating Disorder Cases Treated in Past Five Year

MOH does not collect specific data on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) due to its rarity, but public hospitals treated an average of 300 eating disorder cases yearly from 2016 to 2020, with a median patient age of 21 and nine in 10 being females.
All public hospitals' psychiatry departments are equipped to treat eating disorders, but BDD treatment availability is not specified given the lack of data.
Public hospitals actively promote awareness and early diagnosis through educational materials, health talks, and initiatives like SGH’s e-book and KKH’s community collaborations.

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11 May 2021

Myopia-related Eye Disorders Treated in Past 10 Years and Updates on National Myopia Prevention Programme

In the past decade, the Singapore National Eye Centre’s High Myopia Clinic, established in 2018, has treated an average of about 800 patients annually, with studies suggesting that many cases could have been prevented through early childhood myopia care.
The National Myopia Prevention Programme, launched in 2001, has contributed to a decline in myopia among primary school students—from 37.7% to 29.3% and high myopia from 2.3% to 1.4% between 2004 and 2017—through school screenings, education, and partnerships.
Preventive measures like increased outdoor time and combined therapies could significantly reduce myopia prevalence, with ongoing efforts including preschool vision screening, outdoor activity mandates, and tailored treatments at the Myopia Centre to further delay onset and progression.

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11 May 2021

Measures in Place to Counter Perception that Vaping Does Not Have Serious Health Effects as Smoking

The Ministry of Health, represented by Minister Gan Kim Yong, stated that the World Health Organization recognizes vaping as harmful and a potential gateway to smoking, and highlighted Singapore's strict prohibition on vaping-related activities.
The Health Promotion Board has run targeted public education campaigns since 2019, focusing on youths and parents to inform them of the health harms of vaping through various online and school-based initiatives.
Resources are available on HealthHub for the public to learn about vaping risks, and the Health Sciences Authority uses media to reinforce the legal ban and advise against any vaping-related actions.

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11 May 2021

Assistance Offered to Other Countries to Deal with COVID-19

Singapore contributed US$5 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment to support vaccine access for low and lower-middle income countries and co-chairs the Friends of the COVAX group to advance global vaccine distribution.
Singapore donated US$100,000 to the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund and provided medical supplies such as PCR machines, test kits, and PPE to several countries including Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, China, India, and others in Africa and Latin America.
The government supported community efforts like the Singapore Red Cross Society and Temasek Foundation, which have raised funds and donated medical equipment to assist affected countries worldwide.

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11 May 2021

Ratio of Mental Health Professionals to Resident Population

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Health about the current and optimal ratios of mental health professionals to Singapore's resident population.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong reported 2,541 psychiatrists and 5,042 psychologists, equating to 4.5 psychiatrists and 8.9 psychologists per 100,000 population.
There is no international consensus on an optimal ratio, and the Ministry of Health will collaborate with agencies like MOE and MSF to assess needs and monitor professional numbers to ensure quality mental health services.

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11 May 2021

Transparency of Third Party Administrator Fee Arrangements in Singapore

Dr Tan Yia Swam asked whether Third Party Administrator (TPA) companies should be directly regulated, how transparency of TPA fee arrangements can be enhanced beyond current medical council guidelines, and whether financial relationships between TPAs and insurers should be regulated.
The Minister for Health stated that MOH prioritizes regulating direct healthcare providers, as TPAs do not provide direct patient care, and currently relies on guidelines under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act and the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code to ensure fee transparency and prevent improper fee arrangements.
The Minister added that future regulations under the Healthcare Services Act will require itemised billing to distinctly list TPA fees, improving transparency, and that MOH is reviewing TPA practices and will consider stricter regulation if evidence of patient risks emerges.

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11 May 2021

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Blood and Organ Donations and on Transplants

The Health Sciences Authority reported that blood donations increased slightly in 2020 compared to 2019, with more frequent donations from regular donors and more first-time donors, while organ transplant numbers dropped from 488 in 2019 to 294 in 2020 due to pandemic-related deferments and tightened donor criteria.
Additional safety measures were implemented for blood donations, including pre-screening for symptoms, travel and contact history, donor reminders, and enhanced cleaning at blood banks to mitigate COVID-19 risks.
For organ transplants, donors and recipients undergo pre-transplant COVID-19 testing, and hospitals follow strict safe distancing, infection control, and PPE protocols, with ongoing reviews by MOH and NOTU to ensure safety.

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11 May 2021

Prosecution of Illegal Sale and Supply of Adulterated and Counterfeit Health Products through Online Platforms

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has investigated an average of 70 cases annually from 2018 to 2020 for illegal online sales of adulterated health products, primarily lifestyle products like those for weight loss or sexual enhancement, leading to six prosecutions with fines and imprisonment.
HSA monitors local websites and e-commerce platforms, collaborates with overseas regulators and INTERPOL, and takes legal action or issues warnings to sellers of adulterated or counterfeit health products, with penalties including fines up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to three years.
HSA and the Ministry of Health conduct educational initiatives, including press releases, outreach through the Health Promotion Board to tertiary students, and the HealthWatch website launched in 2019, to warn consumers about the risks of illegal online health products and promote informed decisions.

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11 May 2021

Handling Cases of Excessive Hoarding at Home

The Ministry of National Development acknowledges hoarding as a social and mental health issue, with assistance programmes coordinated through the Hoarding Management Framework to support affected residents, especially in HDB estates.
HDB advises hoarders to declutter and may collaborate with agencies like SCDF and NEA for severe cases, involving community volunteers and providing counselling through family and social service agencies.
Successful intervention requires a gentle approach from family and community, with long-term support to address root causes and prevent recurrence, while cases causing public health risks can be reported via the OneService App.

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11 May 2021

Wider Use of Online Mental Wellness Resources Given Constraints on Visits to Clinics

Seah Kian Peng asked the Ministry of Health about plans to educate the public, especially those less familiar with computers, on using online mental wellness resources amid constraints on clinic visits.
Gan Kim Yong responded that various online mental health resources, such as Mindline.sg, are promoted through campaigns like "Brave the New" to help people cope with COVID-19 stressors.
Efforts to assist less tech-savvy individuals include deploying volunteers to guide seniors, promoting digital adoption schemes, and providing training through the Senior Go Digital programme, which has trained over 90,000 seniors.
The government plans to continue promoting access to online mental wellness resources to improve population mental health.

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11 May 2021

Mental Health Support to Lower Income

Seah Kian Peng raised questions about the adequacy of mental health support for lower-income individuals amid rising needs and online service use, urging a review of schemes and a holistic support structure.
Masagos Zulkifli affirmed the government's commitment to accessible mental health services for all income levels, highlighting subsidized care through public institutions, MediSave, and MediFund.
He detailed various social services, including subsidized counselling, Family Service Centres, and free helplines and online platforms like Mindline.sg and the National CARE Hotline.
The government is expanding community mental health services under the Community Mental Health Masterplan and establishing an inter-agency platform to coordinate efforts.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue collaborating with other agencies and community partners to support lower-income families' mental wellness needs.

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11 May 2021

Government Spend on Preventive Care as a Proportion of Overall Spending on Healthcare Expenditure

In 2020 and 2021, the government allocated about 5% of MOH’s non-COVID-19 budget ($590 million and $720 million respectively) to preventive healthcare, funding initiatives like public education, health screenings, and food reformulation.
Key performance indicators include monitoring disease prevalence and disability-adjusted life years, which have improved since 1990, alongside tracking lifestyle risk factors such as physical activity, diet, and smoking rates.
Programmatic outcomes show positive trends, such as increased market share for healthier food choices, higher participation in physical activity challenges, and expanded workplace health programs, though challenges like obesity and diabetes persist.

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11 May 2021

Sale and Import of Vaping Devices via E-commerce Platforms

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Ministry of Health (MOH) about monitoring vaping trends, working with e-commerce platforms to curb sales, and measures to raise awareness among teens.
MOH and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) reported increased seizures and cases of e-vaporizers, with ongoing collaboration with agencies and e-commerce platforms to remove illegal listings and intercept smuggled items.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) engages youths through educational activities and resources to promote a vape-free lifestyle, while MOH reiterates the prohibition of e-vaporizers under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.

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11 May 2021

Cases of Vaping in Schools

Sharael Taha requested statistics on vaping cases in schools since the 2018 ban, suggestions for youth education, and actions against suppliers, with Lawrence Wong noting that about six in 1,000 students are caught for smoking or vaping yearly without a specific vaping breakdown and that education and disciplinary measures are in place.
Schools integrate vaping and tobacco harm into the curriculum, teach students to resist peer pressure and make responsible decisions, and collaborate with the Health Promotion Board to refresh materials and offer interactive programmes.
Students caught vaping face school discipline, are reported to the Health Sciences Authority, which may fine offenders and require cessation programmes, while suppliers are prosecuted with penalties like fines or imprisonment, and underage suppliers may undergo rehabilitation.

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11 May 2021

Clarification by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

Minister Grace Fu corrected the number of gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with preschools from 14 to 13 based on joint investigations by the Singapore Food Agency and MOH.
The correction followed an earlier parliamentary reply and was made to ensure accuracy in the official record.
The update was acknowledged by the Speaker, and the debate concluded without further discussion.

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11 May 2021

Fourth Update on Whole-of-Government Response to COVID-19

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong updated that Singapore has seen 61,378 COVID-19 cases and 31 deaths, with new clusters and unlinked cases raising community transmission risks, prompting tightened safe distancing and border measures.
Vaccination progress is steady, with 1.8 million receiving at least one dose, and vaccines shown to reduce severe illness even against variants, though supplies remain limited and focus is on encouraging seniors to get vaccinated.
Education Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized the need for a long-term strategy to live with COVID-19, balancing border controls with economic needs, and outlined support for affected sectors like construction due to manpower shortages.
Ministers addressed concerns about racism linked to the pandemic, condemning discrimination and reaffirming Singapore's commitment to unity, while discussing plans for booster shots, vaccine costs, and adapting measures for events like the Shangri-La Dialogue.

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