Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

19 Nov 2018

Reducing Probability of Patients Catching Infection at Hospital

The Ministry of Health works with the National Infection Prevention and Control Committee to set guidelines that all hospitals must follow for infection control, covering precautions, surveillance, and staff education.
Hospitals conduct regular audits and MOH monitors performance, including peer reviews and engagement sessions to share best practices across public and private institutions.
Measures such as antimicrobial stewardship programs and visitor restrictions are implemented to control infections, with data showing a reduction in healthcare-associated MRSA cases.

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19 Nov 2018

Care Resources for Students with Special Needs and Mental Health Conditions in Polytechnics

The Ministry of Education ensures that polytechnics have Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support Offices to provide funding for assistive devices and services, collaborate with welfare organizations for internships and job matching, and conduct staff training to foster an inclusive campus culture.
With parental consent, SEN-related information from secondary schools is shared with polytechnics to support students' transition, including advice on suitable courses and special orientation programs.
Polytechnics support student mental wellness through curricular and co-curricular programs on mental health, peer support initiatives, and para-counsellors as a first line of support, with professional counsellors and external agencies like the Community Health Assessment Team and Singapore Association of Mental Health providing additional help.

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19 Nov 2018

Validity Period of Doctors' Letters Certifying Condition of Patient for Lasting Power of Attorney

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked whether the validity period of doctors' letters for Lasting Power of Attorney is uniformly accepted across banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.
The Ministry for Social and Family Development explained that if mental capacity loss is permanent, the medical report has no validity limit, but temporary loss validity varies based on the patient's condition and third-party risk assessments.
Standardisation of validity periods for temporary mental capacity loss is not feasible due to differing due diligence requirements of institutions.
Housing and Development Board, insurance companies under the Life Insurance Association Singapore, and banks under the Association of Banks in Singapore apply a six-month validity period.

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19 Nov 2018

Follow-up Monitoring and Care for Discharged Mentally Distressed Patients

The Ministry of Health (MOH) collaborates with healthcare and community providers to support discharged mentally distressed patients, including those without caregivers, through referrals to community outreach teams for supervision and help.
Patients typically receive outpatient follow-up appointments, with those having moderate or severe stable conditions case-managed by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) via post-discharge monitoring, including phone calls, home visits, and referrals for social support.
IMH provides intensive follow-up through multidisciplinary home visits, a 24-hour crisis helpline, and mobile crisis teams, while MOH builds community capabilities to enhance supervision and treatment.
The Aftercare Programme, implemented in 2015 with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), supports transitions from IMH to the community through joint workflows, protocols, and training with community mental health partners, and has expanded to multiple sites.

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19 Nov 2018

Adequacy of Healthcare Professionals with Three Medical Schools Fully Established

Prof Fatimah Lateef questioned how Singapore is meeting healthcare professional needs and the doctor-to-population ratio amid three established medical schools.
The Ministry of Health increased local medical intakes by 40% between 2012 and 2018, aiming to build a strong local core of doctors supplemented by overseas-trained professionals.
Singapore’s doctor-to-population ratio rose from 1.9 in 2012 to 2.4 in 2017, comparable to South Korea and Japan but lower than the US and UK, though comparisons require caution due to differing healthcare systems.

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19 Nov 2018

Mental Wellness and Resilience Training for Primary and Secondary School Students

Prof Fatimah Lateef questioned how mental wellness and resilience training could be expanded in primary and secondary schools and what roles the MOE’s Psychology Division staff play.
Ong Ye Kung stated that mental health is a growing global issue, especially among youth, and requires collaboration across home, school, and community environments.
MOE has strengthened socio-emotional learning in schools, ensured every school has at least one counsellor, and promoted peer support programs to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.
Teachers are trained to identify signs of distress and refer students to counsellors, while HPB provides mental health resources and briefings for school staff.
MOE’s educational psychologists design curricula and provide assessments, and the Ministry engages parents to support students’ mental health beyond school.

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19 Nov 2018

Policies and Guidelines for Handling Sensitive Health Data of Patients in Public and Private Sectors

Prof Fatimah Lateef inquired about the existence of overarching policies and audits for handling sensitive health data in both public and private healthcare sectors.
The Ministry of Health requires healthcare entities to comply with the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act and the Personal Data Protection Act, which mandate safeguards for medical records and personal data.
Additional protections are applied to sensitive medical conditions through legislation and technical controls, based on advisory guidelines.
The Ministry conducts regular inspections and audits to ensure compliance, with penalties for non-compliance under relevant laws.

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19 Nov 2018

Prevalence and Awareness of Vitamin D Deficiency

Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked the Minister for Health about the estimated percentage of the population deficient in Vitamin D and measures to increase awareness of the associated risks.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong cited the 2010 National Health Survey showing 40% of Singaporeans deficient and 8% very deficient in Vitamin D, with figures comparable to other countries.
The Health Promotion Board recommends a diet rich in Vitamin D sources like eggs and oily fish, plus limited sun exposure, to maintain adequate levels.
HPB's "The Recipe for Healthy Ageing" toolkit aims to raise nutritional awareness among seniors aged 50 and above.
Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of conditions like osteoporosis, though not all deficient individuals experience health impacts.

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19 Nov 2018

Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill

The Minister for Health introduced the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill to update the Infectious Diseases Act for the first reading.
The bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting.
The debate focused on formal legislative procedures for amending the Infectious Diseases Act.

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2 Oct 2018

Review of Effectiveness of Mental Health Education in Schools

The Ministry of Education has enhanced mental health education through the Character and Citizenship curriculum, incorporating socio-emotional learning to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
Schools have increased mental health programmes, secured at least one counsellor per school, and implemented early detection measures including hotlines and peer support training.
Institutes of Higher Learning integrate mental wellness into curricula, with examples like compulsory LifeSkills modules at Republic Polytechnic and ITE, and have similar support structures in place.
Health Promotion Board provides annual mental health briefings and resources for teachers and counsellors to improve their ability to support students.
There is a commitment to ongoing monitoring and expansion of mental health support, including plans to enhance resources for young adults in higher education institutions.

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2 Oct 2018

Time Banking in Healthcare Institution for Volunteer Work Performed

Joan Pereira proposed a pilot project for time banking in healthcare institutions, allowing volunteer hours to be converted into credits for future use at the same institution.
Gan Kim Yong acknowledged the value of volunteers in public healthcare but expressed concern that time banking might undermine intrinsic motivation to serve.
The Ministry of Health recognizes volunteers through existing appreciation initiatives and will continue exploring ways to better recognize their contributions.

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2 Oct 2018

Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces a framework for District Pneumatic Waste Conveyance Systems (DPWCS) to automate waste collection, starting with Kampong Bugis, to reduce reliance on foreign labour and improve hygiene.
It mandates an annual Progressive Wage Model (PWM) Bonus for Singaporean and Permanent Resident cleaners, to be implemented from January 2020, to improve their wages and job stability.
The Bill enhances operational efficiency for the National Environment Agency by updating document service methods and increasing penalties for certain public health offences.
It also strengthens the Progressive Wage Model for the cleaning sector by making the PWM Bonus a licensing requirement for cleaning businesses, with enforcement by the Commissioner for Labour.

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2 Oct 2018

Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, Mr Amrin Amin, provided an update on the number of deaths attributable to tobacco use, anti-smoking, and second-hand smoke.
The specific figure cited for the year 2016 was 2,278 deaths, in response to a question from Mr Louis Ng.
The source for this data is referenced as the Official Report from 2 October 2018, Vol 94, Issue No 84.
The exchange concluded the Question Time segment, with written answers for any unresolved questions to be reproduced in the Appendix.

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2 Oct 2018

Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Second-hand Smoke

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Health about the health effects of prolonged second-hand smoke exposure, annual diagnoses and deaths related to it, and whether data collection would begin if unavailable.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that second-hand smoke causes similar health issues as active smoking, and while individual attribution is difficult, a 2016 study estimates tobacco use accounts for 7% of Singapore's disease burden, with 1% from second-hand smoke and six daily deaths from smoking or exposure.
He noted that the Health Promotion Board runs outreach efforts like online resources and roadshows to raise awareness, and the ministry will consider increasing these efforts following the member’s suggestion.
Mr Ng pressed for absolute numbers of affected individuals, citing Japan’s figure of 15,000 annual deaths, but the Senior Parliamentary Secretary admitted lacking exact Singapore statistics and offered to follow up separately.
The debate highlighted ongoing government efforts to monitor and reduce tobacco use through public education, cessation support, and legislation, while acknowledging data limitations on second-hand smoke’s specific impact.

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2 Oct 2018

Requirement for Manufacturers of Health Supplements to Provide Test Results from Accredited Laboratories to Support Advertising Claims

Dr Chia Shi-Lu proposed requiring manufacturers of health supplements to provide accredited lab test results to substantiate advertising claims, aiming to prevent inaccurate representations.
The Ministry of Health, via the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), uses a risk-based approach to regulate health supplements, allowing dealers to use authoritative references for claims, similar to international practices, but prohibits disease-treatment claims and imposes penalties for non-compliance.
HSA conducts post-market surveillance and adverse reaction monitoring, but mandatory testing for claims is not currently considered; the Minister indicated that while guidelines exist, there are no immediate plans to legislate them, and consumer recourse relies partly on caveat emptor with HSA welcoming complaints.

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1 Oct 2018

Measures to Ensure Safety and Efficacy of Vaccines Made by Changsheng Biotechnology

Mr Leon Perera asked whether any vaccines from Changsheng Biotechnology are used in Singapore and what measures ensure their safety and efficacy.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong confirmed that no vaccines from Changsheng Biotechnology have been approved for use in Singapore.
The response implies that existing regulatory frameworks prevent unapproved vaccines from being used, ensuring safety and efficacy standards are met.

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1 Oct 2018

Extension of Additional Financial Support to Mothers Who Require Healthcare Due to Pregnancy Complications

Christopher de Souza asked whether the Ministry of Health would extend additional financial support for couples dealing with pregnancy complications and for expectant mothers who struggle to obtain maternity insurance due to past complications.
Gan Kim Yong noted that Singaporeans receive up to 80% subsidy for inpatient treatments and up to 70% for subsidised outpatient specialist care, with most expectant mothers in B2/C class wards paying less than $500 after subsidies and MediSave.
Couples facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers at public hospitals, including access to MediFund.
The Ministry of Health is reviewing how MediShield Life can better cover inpatient treatments for serious pregnancy and delivery complications and will share details once ready.

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1 Oct 2018

Notices at Public Locations to Guide Members of Public on Use of AEDs

Murali Pillai asked if notices guiding the public on using AEDs or calling 995 for help could be placed at all public locations with AEDs.
K Shanmugam stated that AEDs are simple to use with voice prompts and that 995 operators guide callers through chest compressions and AED use.
He noted that AED cabinets in HDB blocks under the Save-a-Life initiative have QR codes linking to instructional videos.
He added that a new sticker with step-by-step instructions would be affixed to AED cabinets by July 2019.

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1 Oct 2018

Measures to Prevent Elderly Suicide and Isolation

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked about new measures to address the increase in elderly suicides and prevent elderly isolation, to which Health Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that suicide rates among seniors have declined over the past decade but each suicide is still too many, and government agencies are working together on upstream prevention.
The government is building mental resilience and awareness through campaigns like the National Council of Social Service’s Mental Health Public Education Campaign and the Health Promotion Board’s National Seniors’ Health Programme to destigmatize mental health and encourage help-seeking.
Proactive outreach programmes such as the Community Networks for Seniors and the Care Line hotline aim to prevent social isolation by connecting seniors with befrienders and providing 24/7 tele-befriending services, with plans to expand nationwide.
Services like the Agency for Integrated Care’s CREST programme and Family Service Centres provide targeted support for at-risk seniors, including counselling, therapy, and socio-emotional skills training, to address depression and other issues.
Crisis interventions are available through the Samaritans of Singapore’s 24-hour hotline and the Institute of Mental Health’s helpline, with police and other agencies referring individuals for urgent assistance and treatment when needed.

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1 Oct 2018

Monopolising of Hospital Cleaning Contracts

Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Health about the number of cleaning service providers contracted by hospitals under the Ministry and how the Ministry prevents monopolisation by ensuring opportunities for other cleaning companies.
Gan Kim Yong stated that the three public healthcare clusters (NUHS, NHG, and SingHealth) are served by four different cleaning providers.
The Ministry uses an open tender process where all cleaning companies can bid for consolidated contracts or sub-components, allowing smaller and newer vendors to participate.
Tenders are evaluated on both price and quality to ensure cleaning providers meet healthcare institutions' requirements cost-effectively.

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