Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

6 Jan 2020

Regulating or Educating the Public on Digital Marketing Practices for Unhealthy Products Such As Junk Food and E-cigarettes

Prof Lim Sun Sun asked whether the Ministry of Health plans to regulate digital marketing of unhealthy products like junk food and e-cigarettes targeting youths, if it collects demographic data on such marketing, and if it will consider public education campaigns to inform young consumers.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that regulations on marketing unhealthy products apply to both digital and non-digital media, with a ban on advertising tobacco products including e-cigarettes online and existing controls on unhealthy food marketing to children through codes and guidelines.
The Ministry is exploring closer monitoring of digital marketing and agrees with Prof Lim’s suggestion to educate young consumers about such marketing strategies, working with partners.

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6 Jan 2020

Prevalence of Dementia in Singapore in Past Five Years and Distinguishing Dementia from Other Mental Health Issues

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked about the prevalence and incidence of dementia in Singapore over the past five years, whether health services are adequately resourced given the ageing population, and the progress in establishing dementia-friendly communities.
Ms Anthea Ong raised questions on lessons learned from the Community Mental Health Masterplan and National Mental Health Blueprint, their influence on future plans, public consultations, and the need to distinguish dementia from other mental health conditions due to different strategies required.
Minister Gan Kim Yong outlined the implementation of mental health plans since 2007 and 2012, highlighting increased accessibility, early identification, and community outreach, with one in ten seniors aged 60 and above estimated to have dementia based on a 2013 study.
The Ministry has strengthened dementia services by establishing eight Dementia-Friendly Communities, expanding dementia day care places, piloting inpatient services, and growing outpatient memory clinic capacity, with plans to review mental health strategies holistically and consider stakeholder consultations.

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6 Jan 2020

Healthcare Services Bill

Senior Minister of State Edwin Tong assured that the new Healthcare Services Bill will not transfer additional costs to patients, emphasizing that the transition is not a revenue-generating mechanism and most existing providers will see no change or a decrease in fees.
MOH will support all licensees, including smaller providers, through a seamless transition from the old to the new licensing regime without requiring new applications or extra fees, with clear guidance provided.
For the few providers facing higher fees, mainly those offering new licensable services, increases will be spread over three renewal cycles, and the Bill aims to balance patient safety with a flexible regulatory framework for evolving healthcare needs.

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6 Jan 2020

Healthcare Services Bill

The Healthcare Services Bill replaces the outdated Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act with a modern, services-based licensing framework to regulate healthcare providers, including new models like telemedicine and integrated care, while ensuring patient safety, continuity of care, and enhanced governance.
The Bill introduces stricter safeguards, such as employment restrictions for staff in high-risk settings, step-in powers for MOH to take over failing residential providers, and advertising controls to prevent public misrepresentation, with phased implementation to ease the transition for existing licensees.
During the debate, MPs raised concerns about potential cost increases for providers and patients, the regulation of emerging services like telemedicine and private ambulances, and the need for clarity on licensing for allied health and mental health services, with the Minister assuring that costs will be managed and consultations will continue.

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5 Nov 2019

Available Support for Young Persons with Acute Mental Health Episode in a Residential Home

Christopher de Souza asked about support for young people in residential homes who have acute mental health episodes that are too severe for the home’s care but not serious enough for hospital admission.
Desmond Lee outlined that children and young persons in licensed homes receive support from school counsellors, MSF psychologists, and care teams, with additional help from community mental health intervention teams.
For more severe cases, they may be referred to medical institutions like the Child Guidance Clinic at IMH for outpatient or inpatient treatment, with post-discharge care plans coordinated by caseworkers.
MSF collaborates with other agencies, social service providers, schools, and the community to ensure comprehensive mental well-being support for these youths.

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5 Nov 2019

Heat Stroke and Dehydration Cases in Last Three Years and Measures to Protect Workers Against Excessive Heat

In the past three years, 10 workers suffered heat-related injuries, including one fatality, representing less than 0.03% of all workplace injuries.
The Ministry has issued guidelines requiring risk assessments, rest breaks, access to cool water, and education on heat disorders, with information disseminated through various channels.
Heat stroke and dehydration are already reportable incidents, and from September 2020, any incident resulting in medical leave or light duty must be reported.
The Ministry includes heat stress in its Total WSH Programme, with consultants advising companies on protective measures.
The guidelines do not mandate specific water intake or rest periods but encourage employers to implement appropriate precautions based on risk assessments.

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5 Nov 2019

Capacity and Utilisation Rates of Long-Term Care Services

The Ministry of Health reported that as of June 2019, long-term care capacity included approximately 15,800 nursing home beds, 7,100 day care places, 9,500 home care places, and 6,100 home palliative care places.
Utilisation rates for these services were about 85% for nursing homes, 52% for day care, 54% for home care, and 45% for home palliative care, indicating sufficient national capacity.
The Ministry stated that capacity has been expanded over the years to meet the ageing population’s needs and is regularly monitored and adjusted to respond to changing care demands.

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5 Nov 2019

Statistics on Injuries Treated at Public Hospitals Resulting from PMD Accidents

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira queried the Minister for Transport about the number of persons treated at public hospitals for PMD accident injuries since 2018, broken down by riders, pedestrians, and injury severity, and how these rates compare to international PMD experiences and other transport modes in Singapore.
Khaw Boon Wan reported that 299 people were treated in 2018 for PMD-related incidents, with 259 riders and eight pedestrians, and injuries categorized as 63% minor, 21% moderate, and 16% severe.
For comparison, 1,836 people were treated for bicycle-related incidents, 5,700 for motorcycle-related incidents, and 6,743 for car-related incidents in the same period, with about 89% minor, 7% moderate, and 4% severe injuries across these categories.
The minister noted that no international comparison of PMD-related injuries could be made due to a lack of published data.
The debate highlights the scale of PMD injuries relative to other transport modes in Singapore and the absence of global benchmarking data.

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5 Nov 2019

Measures at Public Hospitals to Guard against Haze and Heat

Public hospitals in Singapore are equipped with measures such as portable air purifiers and coolers, and newer facilities have built-in air filtration systems to address haze and heat.
While there are no mandatory temperature or humidity thresholds, newer hospitals are designed for better airflow, and older ones implement spot-cooling during renovations, with drinking water available to prevent dehydration.
Approximately 100 hospital admissions annually over the past five years are attributed to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

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5 Nov 2019

Considerations in Selecting Gibraltar Crescent Site as Singapore's First Dementia Care Village

Leon Perera questioned the choice of the Gibraltar Crescent site for Singapore’s first dementia care village, citing the need to preserve state bungalows and the high cost of making them elder-friendly.
Gan Kim Yong explained the site was selected as a pilot to test a less medicalised, community-based care model that promotes independence for seniors with dementia in a home-like environment.
The government noted suitable sites for such pilots are scarce in land-scarce Singapore, and the Gibraltar site was shortlisted for its potential to innovate care.
State bungalows on the site are retained for heritage preservation and social use, and retrofitting is allowed under guidelines with costs borne by tenderers.
The pilot aims to generate learnings that can improve dementia care in existing and future facilities across Singapore.

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5 Nov 2019

Beneficiaries of Long-term Care Schemes May Jeopardise Their Eligibility for Other Social and Healthcare Assistance Schemes

Anthea Ong asked whether financial benefits from long-term care schemes affect household income calculations for means-testing and eligibility for ComCare and MediFund, and how the government mitigates opportunity costs.
Desmond Lee stated that long-term care benefits do not alter household monthly income for means-testing, but are considered when assessing eligibility for ComCare and MediFund, which act as safety nets after other support is exhausted.
ComCare covers basic living expenses if other assistance is insufficient, while MediFund committees assess applicants holistically, considering higher healthcare costs and support from various schemes to ensure no Singaporean is denied care.

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5 Nov 2019

Update on Review of Pilot Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening programme

The pilot Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) programme began in 2017 for women aged 35 and above or those with recurrent implantation failures or pregnancy losses, with 298 patients enrolled so far.
The pilot is scheduled to end in December 2019, after which the Ministry of Health will evaluate clinical outcomes like implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates compared to non-PGS IVF cases.
The review will consider international evidence, ethical challenges, and regulatory needs to decide if PGS should become a routine clinical service.

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5 Nov 2019

Increase in Cost of Medicine

Liang Eng Hwa asked whether medicine costs in Singapore have increased over the last three years and what the reasons are, and whether the government will consider improving affordability by aligning prices with those in neighbouring countries.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that drug pricing depends on factors like patents, alternatives, development costs, market size, and supply chain differences, and noted various measures to manage costs, including aggregated procurement through ALPS and value-based pricing through ACE.
The government is promoting the appropriate use of medicines by encouraging evidence-based prescribing and generic alternatives, while regularly reviewing and subsidizing more drugs and providing financial support schemes like MediSave, MediShield Life, MediFund, and the Medication Assistance Fund.

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5 Nov 2019

CPF Members Using Up Annual Limit of Flexi-MediSave Scheme

Saktiandi Supaat asked how many CPF members used up the $200 Flexi-MediSave annual limit and suggested reviewing it for older members with frequent outpatient needs.
The Ministry of Health reported 136,000 eligible seniors fully used the limit in 2018, highlighted recent enhancements like lowering the age to 60, and committed to regular reviews for affordability and sustainability.
Saktiandi emphasized residents’ concerns that the $200 is quickly exhausted, urging a review and timeline, to which MOH noted most eligible seniors do not fully use the limit but will consider feedback.
Pritam Singh proposed allowing higher withdrawals for those with larger MediSave balances, and MOH acknowledged the suggestion while noting challenges with differentiated limits and other available schemes.
MOH reiterated that Flexi-MediSave is part of a broader healthcare financing framework and will continue to be reviewed to balance support for seniors with long-term sustainability.

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5 Nov 2019

Number of Vape Sellers and Buyers Caught in Recent Years

The Ministry of Health outlined strict laws against vaping, with 219 online sale cases and 465 possession cases handled between 2017 and 2019, resulting in fines and imprisonment.
Enforcement includes working with online platforms and conducting raids, with calls for increased efforts in physical areas like neighborhoods and shopping districts.
A UK study on e-cigarettes for smoking cessation was discussed, showing higher quit rates but concerns about continued nicotine addiction and dual use with cigarettes.
The Ministry emphasizes evidence-based policies and monitors emerging studies but currently sees limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes for cessation.
Public education and smoking cessation programs are being strengthened to address misconceptions and promote proven methods to quit smoking.

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4 Nov 2019

Tracking of Over-prescription of Medicine and Guidelines for Prescription Quantities

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked the Ministry of Health whether it tracks over-prescription of medication that could cause cost inflation and wastage, and if it provides guidelines for prescription quantities.
The Ministry does not specifically track over-prescription, but has measures to minimize excessive medication provision, such as prescribing supplies until the next appointment and limiting quantities to three months for normal medication or six months for chronic illnesses.
Public healthcare institutions encourage shorter medication collections for new prescriptions to prevent wastage, and hospitals conduct medication reconciliation before discharge to reduce unnecessary drugs.
Dispensing pharmacists review medications to eliminate excessive supplies, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore holds public education events to discourage over-collection.

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4 Nov 2019

Use of MediSave Savings for Mental Health Therapy and Counselling Treatment at Public Hospitals

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked if patients can use MediSave for mental health therapy and counselling at public hospitals, which are typically outpatient services.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that subsidies are available for these treatments, and under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, patients can withdraw up to $500 per year from MediSave for mental health outpatient care, with an additional $200 for those aged 60 and above via Flexi-MediSave.
For inpatient stays due to mental health conditions, patients can receive subsidies, MediShield Life coverage, and use MediSave for bills, with medical social workers available for additional financial assistance to ensure no Singaporean is denied care due to cost.

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4 Nov 2019

Statistics on Mid-career Professionals Joining Nursing Profession Through Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme

In the past three years, nearly 300 mid-career Singaporeans joined nursing through the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP), with 40% from non-nursing roles in health and social services and the rest from diverse sectors like manufacturing, finance, and public administration.
The PCP for Registered Nurses at Diploma and Degree levels is an accelerated programme that lets mid-career individuals complete training in two years, compared to three years for fresh school leavers.
The Ministry of Health has not specifically announced an accelerated Nursing PCP for informal caregivers returning to the workforce, but the existing accelerated PCP framework could potentially support such individuals.

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4 Nov 2019

Details on Inflation Rate for Dental Services without Government Subsidies

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked for the inflation rate for dental services without Government subsidies, the private sector inflation rate, and whether specialised procedures like dental implants are included.
The Ministry of Health explained that healthcare inflation is calculated using the Healthcare Consumer Price Index, which includes taxes and subsidies, and currently has no data on inflation without subsidies.
Between 2009 and 2018, the private sector inflation rate for dental services was 2.3% per annum, covering common procedures like scaling, fillings, and root canals, but not dental implants as they are less frequently used.

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4 Nov 2019

More Flexibility in Use of MediSave for Maintenance Rehabilitation

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Health if MediSave can be used more flexibly for maintenance rehabilitation, especially for stroke patients needing long-term care.
Gan Kim Yong explained that MediSave is primarily for hospitalization savings, and any expansion must ensure Singaporeans have enough funds for that purpose.
He noted MediSave currently covers active rehabilitation, and since mid-2020, severely disabled patients aged 30+ can withdraw up to $200 monthly from their or their spouse’s MediSave for care needs, including maintenance exercises.
Patients also receive up to 80% subsidies for non-residential long-term care services, including maintenance exercise, and can seek further help from medical social workers.

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