Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

2 Feb 2021

Managing Number of SHN Hotels to Balance Cost Considerations and Demand

The Ministry of National Development typically contracts between 30 to 70 hotels as dedicated Stay-Home-Notice facilities, with flexibility to activate or stand down capacity based on demand.
There are currently about 15,000 individuals in these facilities, with occupancy rates and contracted periods varying depending on the COVID-19 situation, border policies, and travel demand.
The Ministry balances cost considerations and the need to manage imported cases by continuously monitoring trends, adjusting capacity, and ensuring sufficient vacant spots for returning Singaporeans.
Since 1 January 2021, all incoming travellers must pay for their stay at SHN hotels, helping to offset costs while maintaining the system's effectiveness in isolation.
The priority remains protecting the community from imported cases, with contracts renewed as needed to support ongoing pandemic management and economic and social requirements.

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2 Feb 2021

Public Agencies In Charge of Deploying Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers

The Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment coordinates over 3,000 Safe Distancing Ambassadors and Enforcement Officers from more than 15 agencies daily to enforce safe distancing measures in community hotspots and residential areas.
Agencies like the Housing & Development Board, National Parks Board, and Sport Singapore deploy about half of these officers in residential estates, adjusting patrols based on crowd levels, activities, and operational effectiveness.
Agencies collaborate through regular meetings, joint operations, and a “no wrong door” approach to share cases and ensure consistent enforcement, while urging public responsibility to prevent COVID-19 resurgence.

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2 Feb 2021

Number of Foreigners, Permanent Residents and Singaporeans Tested positive for COVID-19

From July 1 to December 31, 2020, 191 Singapore citizens and 214 permanent residents tested positive for COVID-19 among approximately 64,000 and 32,000 arrivals, respectively.
During the same period, 1,179 foreigners tested positive out of about 177,000 arrivals, including 440 foreign domestic workers and 147 work permit holders from around 14,000 and 28,000 arrivals, respectively.
All arrivals from high-risk areas undergo Stay Home Notice and infected individuals are isolated; from January 25, 2021, all inbound travelers, including citizens and permanent residents, must take a PCR test upon arrival.

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2 Feb 2021

Higher MediShield Life or MediSave Claim Limits Based on Indication-based Pricing, Therapeutic Value of Drug and Patient Outcomes

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim proposed allowing higher MediShield Life or MediSave claim limits for cancer drugs based on indication-based pricing, therapeutic value, and patient outcomes.
Gan Kim Yong stated that the MediShield Life Council is reviewing cancer drug coverage to ensure sustainability and affordability amid rising prevalence and higher-cost therapies.
The Council will study international approaches like health technology assessments and drug pricing negotiations before making recommendations to MOH.
MOH will review MediSave withdrawal limits in tandem with any changes to MediShield Life coverage for cancer drugs.

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2 Feb 2021

Correlation between Quantum of Medical Bills and Medical Insurance Coverage

Seah Kian Peng asked whether there is evidence of a correlation between medical bill sizes and insurance coverage.
Gan Kim Yong explained that insurance products like full riders lead to higher bills due to over-consumption and over-servicing, prompting MOH to require a minimum co-payment for new riders in 2018.
The government will continue to review insurance designs, such as claim limits for cancer treatments, to balance access and sustainability amid rising healthcare costs.

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2 Feb 2021

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, introduced the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill, acknowledging an error in not initially stating that TraceTogether data could be accessed under the Criminal Procedure Code for serious offences, and moving to legally restrict its use primarily to contact tracing, with exceptions for investigations into seven specified serious crimes.
Parliament debated the balance between public health needs for effective contact tracing and public concerns over privacy and trust, with the government emphasizing that the amendments are a temporary, necessary compromise to maintain both pandemic control and public safety.
The bill specifies that personal contact tracing data from systems like TraceTogether and SafeEntry can only be used for contact tracing, except for serious offences listed in the Seventh Schedule, which include crimes like murder, terrorism, and kidnapping, with safeguards such as requiring higher-ranked officers to approve data access.

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2 Feb 2021

Number and Types of Stay-Home-Notice and Quarantine Order Breaches

As of 25 January 2021, 308,442 Stay-Home Notices and 268,385 Quarantine Orders were issued, with 367 SHN and 130 QO breaches recorded, leading to prosecutions, fines, imprisonment, and administrative actions like pass revocation or PR status loss.
Since August 2020, all individuals on SHN or QO must wear electronic monitoring devices using GPS and 4G/Bluetooth, with alerts triggered for breaches, and the HOMER App introduced in April 2020 uses facial recognition and location tracking for additional monitoring.
The HOMER App is used alongside electronic devices for monitoring health and location, and its use alongside electronic devices is mandatory for all individuals on SHN or QO, including Long-Term Visit Pass holders and visitors to Singapore.

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2 Feb 2021

Facilitating Singaporeans Entering Malaysia to Take Care of Essential Personal Matters

The government has been working with Malaysian authorities to facilitate essential cross-border travel for Singaporeans, such as for family bereavements, and has successfully assisted over 250 appeal cases since March 2020.
The Minister acknowledged that many requests are declined by Malaysian immigration authorities, who hold the final discretion, and that the process remains challenging due to evolving public health measures.
Despite Malaysia's political changes and state of emergency, diplomatic channels between Singapore and Malaysia remain functional and open, with regular communication at multiple levels to address bilateral issues.

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2 Feb 2021

POFMA Office's Actions In Regard To Misinformation about COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccination

The POFMA Office has addressed over 60 instances of COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation through a mix of public education, timely updates from trusted sources, and legislative action under POFMA when necessary.
The government uses multiple platforms and languages to share accurate vaccine information, including through the media, social media, community volunteers, and direct outreach to seniors.
Officials emphasize that POFMA is not always the first resort, with engagement and clarification often sufficient, and caution is urged to avoid chilling legitimate concerns while combating falsehoods.

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2 Feb 2021

Proportion of Outsourced Workers in Healthcare Institutions

About 13% of staff in public healthcare institutions, or roughly 10,000 workers, are outsourced, with nearly 70% in frontline or patient care roles but under 5% handling patient samples.
Outsourced workers are not direct hires and their compensation is set by contractors, though healthcare institutions have extended COVID-19 support like PPE, training, and vaccinations to them.
During the debate, concerns were raised that outsourced frontline workers, such as cleaners in COVID-19 wards, do not qualify for special bonuses given to direct public officers, prompting calls for harmonized recognition and benefits.
The Ministry encourages institutions to appreciate outsourced workers’ contributions and will allow them latitude to plan recognition, but did not commit to extending specific financial bonuses.
The Ministry was asked whether work injury compensation (WICA) is required for outsourced healthcare workers, and responded that general workplace injury provisions likely apply, though specific institutional requirements were not detailed.

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1 Feb 2021

Learning Points from False Positive COVID-19 Incident on Board Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship on 9 December 2020 and Plans for More Cruise Ships to Ply Through Singapore's Ports

Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry about learning points from the false positive COVID-19 incident on the Royal Caribbean cruise on 9 December 2020 and whether more cruise ships will be allowed in Singapore’s ports.
Chan Chun Sing stated that the incident tested and refined emergency protocols under the CruiseSafe certification, including isolating suspected cases, using TraceTogether for contact tracing, and verifying test results with the National Public Health Laboratory.
He noted that communication from the cruise line was effective, but areas for improvement included retesting efficiency and passenger debarkation processes.
The government and cruise lines will continue to refine health protocols, and pilot sailings with strict measures and reduced capacity are ongoing while monitoring COVID-19 developments.
The approach remains calibrated and safe to ensure the health and safety of passengers as the cruise sector resumes.

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1 Feb 2021

Biohazardous Waste Generated and Disposed in Past Five Years and Efforts to Reduce Biohazardous Waste Generated

In the past five years, an average of about 4,800 tonnes of biohazardous waste is generated annually in Singapore.
Biohazardous waste is regulated by the NEA, collected by licensed toxic industrial waste collectors, transported via enclosed vehicles on approved routes, and incinerated at dedicated facilities.
Efforts to reduce biohazardous waste focus on ensuring safe collection and disposal to protect public health, with most waste arising from essential healthcare activities.

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1 Feb 2021

Educating Food Stall Owners and Customers on Use of Reusable Containers to Ensure Hygiene and Prevent Spread of COVID-19

The Ministry stated there is no evidence of COVID-19 transmission via food or receptacles, but emphasized joint responsibility for hygiene, safe distancing, and safe management measures in all food establishments.
The National Environment Agency and Singapore Food Agency have issued advisories, engaged food operators, and introduced sanitation checklists that led to the SG Clean Quality Mark for over 23,000 food establishments.
Customers are reminded to clean their reusable containers before use, observe personal hygiene, and properly dispose of litter or return trays to maintain a clean environment.

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1 Feb 2021

Concord International Hospital's Suspension of Operations

Leon Perera asked the Ministry of Health about the frequency of inspections on private hospitals, the number of patients affected by Concord International Hospital's suspension, and any lapses detected during its care of COVID-19 patients from March to September 2020.
The Ministry of Health conducts inspections on all hospitals every two years, supplemented by audits and additional checks; a joint inspection in March 2020 found CIH suitable for COVID-19 care with no non-compliant findings.
Following a change in management in December 2020, an inspection revealed significant lapses from October 2020 onwards, posing patient safety risks, leading to a stop order on 19 December 2020.
At the time of the stop order, CIH had four outpatient appointments (non-COVID-related) and no inpatients, and the Ministry ensured continuity of care at other institutions.
The Ministry is working with CIH to address the lapses and resume operations safely.

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1 Feb 2021

Elderly Suicides Relating to Terminal Illness in Last Three Years

Mr Don Wee asked for the number of elderly suicides in the last three years, how many were linked to terminal illnesses, and what measures are in place to support the terminally ill elderly.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong reported 129 elderly suicides in 2017, 115 in 2018, and 122 in 2019, with a declining suicide rate among seniors, but noted that suicides related to terminal illnesses are not tracked.
Measures to support the terminally ill elderly include Community Outreach Teams providing social-emotional support and linking to resources, as well as enhanced palliative care available in home, day care, and inpatient settings.
The Ministry of Health will continue working with stakeholders to strengthen support for terminally ill seniors through a multi-pronged approach.

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1 Feb 2021

Provision of COVID-19 Vaccine for Seniors Aged above 80 and Take-up Rate of Vaccinations

Don Wee asked the Ministry of Health whether it will review vaccine provision for seniors aged above 80 and what the current vaccination take-up rate is.
Gan Kim Yong reported over 155,000 people received their first vaccine dose by 31 January 2021.
The government prioritised seniors for vaccination due to their higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Safety and effectiveness remain top priorities, with only vaccines meeting strict standards being used.

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1 Feb 2021

Measures to Control Private and Public Healthcare Costs following MediShield Life Council's Recommendation to Reduce Proportion of Private Healthcare Bills Covered by MediShield Life

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Health about additional measures to control private and public healthcare costs beyond the proposed reduction in MediShield Life coverage for private bills from 35% to 25%.
Gan Kim Yong outlined measures including publishing private sector surgeon fee benchmarks and total bill sizes, mandating a minimum 5% copayment in Integrated Shield Plans, and reviewing MediShield Life coverage for costly cancer therapies to ensure sustainability.
The government is promoting cost-effective, evidence-based care through the Agency for Care Effectiveness, emphasizing responsible choices by all stakeholders, and encouraging health promotion and regular screenings to manage long-term healthcare costs.

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1 Feb 2021

Availability of Air Filters Proven to Effectively Filter out Harmful Effects of Secondhand Smoke in Homes

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Health for an update on air filters that can effectively filter secondhand smoke in homes.
The Ministry of Health stated that residential air cleaning technology cannot adequately remove gaseous components of tobacco smoke like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.
The Ministry is unaware of any air filtration technology effective at removing tobacco smoke and notes there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure according to the WHO.
The Ministry urges smokers to exercise social responsibility and avoid smoking where secondhand smoke can affect others.

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1 Feb 2021

Subsidies Provided for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Treatments in Past Five Years and Expected Increase in Subsidies Expenditure

From 2015 to 2019, annual co-funding for IVF treatments increased by more than 40%, from approximately $14 million to $20 million.
The government provides up to 75% co-funding for a maximum of three fresh and three frozen IVF cycles to support couples' parenthood aspirations while balancing financial support and clinical evidence.
Clinical data shows significantly lower success rates for additional cycles beyond the sixth, with rates falling to 6.7% for women aged 40 and above, reinforcing the policy of limiting co-funding to six cycles.

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1 Feb 2021

Harassment, Physical or Verbal Abuse of Healthcare Workers

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked for statistics on reported harassment or abuse cases against healthcare workers over three years, the proportion that led to police reports, legal action, or offenses, and their outcomes.
He also inquired whether the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) applies to healthcare workers during work and off-duty situations involving their role.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that POHA protects all individuals, including healthcare workers, with cases rising from 1,080 in 2018 to 1,300 in 2020, and police reports increasing from 40 to 58.
He clarified that harassment at any time is an offense under POHA, with enhanced penalties for public sector workers on duty, and that MOH has a zero-tolerance policy toward such incidents.

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