Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

3 Oct 2017

Compulsory Neo-natal Insurance for IVF

Louis Ng asked whether neo-natal insurance for IVF should be made compulsory at the point of a positive pregnancy test rather than at embryo transfer.
The Ministry of Health explained that requiring insurance at IVF enrollment keeps premiums affordable due to a larger risk pool, while deferring it to pregnancy could raise premiums due to a smaller risk pool.
The Ministry is currently reviewing the policy but did not specify a timeframe.
Only one insurance provider (Great Eastern) offers the neo-natal insurance, and the Ministry sees no need for more providers due to the small policy pool, though it will review this if necessary.

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3 Oct 2017

Egg Freezing Procedures at Public and Private Hospitals

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Ministry of Health for data on egg freezing procedures and associated risks over the past three years.
The Ministry responded that egg freezing is only permitted for married women undergoing IVF or for medical reasons like cancer, with complication rates for procedures like over-stimulation, infection, and bleeding reported as below 1%.
In a supplementary question, Miss Cheng advocated for allowing egg freezing for healthy women without medical needs, citing international practices, and asked for policy reflection on changing trends.
The Ministry acknowledged the feedback and stated it is carefully considering the social and ethical implications of "social egg freezing," monitoring international developments, and reviewing its position with a focus on safety, regulations, and societal norms.

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2 Oct 2017

Number of Children below Age of Four Diagnosed with Special Needs

In 2016, about 1.4% of children below age four (2,170 children) were diagnosed with developmental issues and needs.
It is difficult to firmly diagnose intellectual disability in very young children, except for those with specific genetic conditions, severe autism, or severe cerebral palsy.
Early intervention services for children with developmental needs are provided by hospitals, as well as MSF-funded programmes like EIPIC and the Development Support programme.

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2 Oct 2017

Sugar Content in Formula Milk

Yee Chia Hsing asked whether the Ministry of Health monitors or regulates sugar levels in infant and children's formula milk to prevent a preference for sweetness later in life.
Gan Kim Yong stated that a Health Promotion Board survey found no added sugar in formula milk for children aged 0 to 12 months, while two products for children over one year contained about two grams of added sugar per 100 ml, and one high-calorie formula had seven grams per 100 ml.
The Health Promotion Board recommends full cream milk for children aged one year and above who are eating and growing well, and advises consulting a paediatrician or nutritionist before using high-calorie formula milk as a supplement.

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2 Oct 2017

Government's Policy Stance on Telemedicine and Teleconsultation

The Ministry of Health (MOH) issued National Telemedicine Guidelines in 2015 and is complemented by the Singapore Medical Council's ethical guidelines from 2016 to govern teleconsultation and telemedicine.
Doctors providing telemedicine must ensure standards of care are comparable to face-to-face consultations, with a responsibility to conduct physical assessments or refer patients when in doubt.
Telemedicine is currently offered mainly as an extension of care for stable patients after an initial in-person consultation, with MOH monitoring developments to review policies for patient safety and benefit.

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2 Oct 2017

Encouraging Health Checks to Create Greater Awareness for Risk of Diabetes

Darryl David asked whether the Ministry of Health would partner more organizations to increase health checks for diabetes risk awareness.
Gan Kim Yong stated that the Ministry collaborates with community partners, employers, and healthcare institutions, with healthcare clusters conducting screenings that benefited over 40,000 residents in 2016.
The Health Promotion Board runs workplace screening programs like "Check Car, Check Body," reaching over 200,000 workers, and the Ministry welcomes more corporate participation to expand coverage.
Grassroots networks through the People's Association are used to educate Singaporeans on the importance of regular health screenings.
The Ministry will continue partnerships to enhance diabetes screening coverage as part of the War on Diabetes.

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2 Oct 2017

Measures to Restrict Distribution of Food and Beverage Products with High Glycemic Index

Darryl David inquired about measures to restrict or control high GI food and beverage products to mitigate diabetes risk.
Gan Kim Yong highlighted HPB’s collaboration with beverage manufacturers that reduced sugar levels by 30% and secured commitments to limit sugar to 12% or less, with further studies on warning labels and advertising restrictions.
MOH will invest $20 million over three years to support the development of healthier low-GI ingredients like wholegrain noodles and brown rice bee hoon.
HPB’s Healthier Dining Programme encourages healthier meal choices, with over 3,100 stalls offering low-GI options and a target to reach 40% of stalls by mid-2019.

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2 Oct 2017

Treatment and Confinement of Mentally-ill Residents who Destroy Neighbours' Properties or Display Signs of Violence

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about expediting treatment and confinement at IMH for mentally ill individuals who harass neighbours and destroy property, as well as the criteria for their release.
The Minister for Health responded that community mental health services are being strengthened, with the Agency for Integrated Care serving as the first contact point for assistance and referrals.
For dangerous behaviour, the public can call 999, and under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act, police can bring individuals to IMH for assessment and potential inpatient treatment.
IMH discharges patients when doctors assess their acute psychiatric condition has stabilised, with longer-term recovery supported at home and through follow-up care coordination.
IMH works with families and community organisations to ensure compliance with appointments and medication, emphasising collective responsibility in supporting recovery and reintegration.

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2 Oct 2017

Food in School Canteen Aligned with Overall Strategy to Fight Diabetes

The Ministry of Education and Health Promotion Board have implemented the Healthy Meals in Schools Programme since 2014, with all mainstream schools serving meals lower in fat, sugar, and salt since January 2017.
All school canteen stallholders receive training on healthier ingredients and preparation methods, with ongoing enhancements to include taste, appearance, and cost management.
The Health Promotion Board conducts annual assessments of school canteens and vending machines to ensure compliance with health guidelines and provides feedback reports to help stallholders improve.

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2 Oct 2017

Efforts to Help Freelancers and Workers in Gig Economy with Medical and Retirement Adequacy

The Ministry of Manpower explained that gig economy workers can be employees or self-employed, with employees and employers required to make CPF contributions for healthcare and retirement, and lower-income employees eligible for Workfare top-ups.
Self-employed persons must make mandatory MediSave contributions for healthcare and can voluntarily top up their Special and Retirement Accounts for retirement, with tax relief and potential Workfare top-ups available for lower-income freelancers.
A tripartite workgroup has been formed to study and address key issues faced by self-employed persons, including healthcare and retirement adequacy, and will provide updates after consulting stakeholders.

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2 Oct 2017

Review Sales, Content and Cost of Milk Products and Supplements for Adults

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health about plans to review the sales, content, and cost of adult milk products and supplements, especially for those on dietary supplementation or tube feeding.
The Minister responded that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority regulates the safety of these products, but there are no current plans to regulate their sales or prices.
The Minister added that seniors needing financial assistance can apply for means-tested subsidies under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund, which has supported over 4,000 beneficiaries so far.
The Ministry will continue to monitor the situation to support seniors in need, but no broader review or regulation is planned at this time.

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2 Oct 2017

Requirement for Traditional Chinese Medicine Shops that Sell Herbal Teas to Obtain Foodshop Licences

Sylvia Lim questioned the justification for requiring Traditional Chinese Medicine shops selling herbal teas to obtain foodshop licences from 1 October 2017.
The National Environment Agency stated that such licensing aims to improve hygiene standards and prevent public health risks like food poisoning.
The agency has engaged with TCM industry groups to discuss the proposal and ensure a smooth implementation.
Details of the enhanced hygiene regime will be released later, and the exact implementation date remains undecided.

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2 Oct 2017

Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill

The Ministry of Health introduced the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) (Amendment) Bill to strengthen existing regulations on tobacco advertising, sale, and promotion.
The Bill was presented by Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong, read for the first time, and scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting.
The amendments aim to enhance public health protections by tightening controls on tobacco-related advertisements and sales activities.

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11 Sep 2017

World Health Organisation Recommendation on Consumption of Added Sugars

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked if HPB follows WHO recommendations to limit added sugars to under 5% of daily energy intake (about 22g) and if this is promoted in public programs.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated HPB aligns with WHO’s 10% limit on free sugars for adults and children, which is its current policy position.
The WHO’s 5% limit is a conditional recommendation, requiring further stakeholder dialogue before implementation as policy.

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11 Sep 2017

Use of Physical Restraints in Eldercare Centres and Nursing Homes

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong inquired about the prevalence of physical restraints in eldercare centres and nursing homes and whether audits are conducted to ensure adherence to the Ministry of Health's guidelines.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that audits show physical restraints are not widely used and are typically a last resort, only applied when seniors pose an immediate risk to themselves or others, such as high fall risk or tendency to pull out life-supporting tubes.
The use of restraints is reviewed regularly by medical professionals, documented, and discussed with caregivers, while the Ministry works with providers to enhance care processes and offers training on alternatives through the Agency for Integrated Care.

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11 Sep 2017

University and Hospital Mobile Research Teams Approaching Residents for Blood Samples for Research into Vector-borne Diseases

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong emphasized that mobile research teams can approach residents at home for blood samples if the research is approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which ensures ethical standards, informed consent, and protection of participant confidentiality.
The Ministry of Health oversees compliance through audits of Research Institutions under the Human Biomedical Research Act, formalizing roles and governance to safeguard participant welfare.
Residents' health, safety, and confidential information are protected via clear explanation of research risks and benefits, voluntary consent processes, and measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure of health data.

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11 Sep 2017

Primary and Secondary Students Diagnosed with Myopia and Astigmatism

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about the number of primary and secondary students diagnosed with myopia and astigmatism over the past five years, current eye-care campaigns in schools, and assistance plans for lower-income students needing corrective lenses.
The Health Promotion Board reported stable vision problem rates, with 28% of Primary 1 students, 65% of Primary 6 students, and 70% of Secondary 4 students affected, alongside the National Myopia Prevention Programme focusing on education and screening since 2001.
Measures include promoting outdoor activities through initiatives like NurtureSG, which mandates at least 30 minutes outdoors daily for preschool children, and advocacy for more outdoor time after school and on weekends.
The Spectacles Voucher Fund, a partnership with Essilor since 2006, provides $50 vouchers for frames and free lenses to students on MOE financial assistance schemes to ensure affordability and accessibility of corrective eyewear.

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11 Sep 2017

Including Siblings in List of Persons Permitted to Contribute to CPF Accounts of Citizens and PRs for Payment of MediShield Life and ElderShield Premiums

Murali Pillai proposed including siblings as permissible contributors to CPF accounts for paying MediShield Life and ElderShield premiums to assist citizens and PRs with insufficient funds due to disabilities.
Gan Kim Yong responded that voluntary cash contributions to MediSave accounts are already allowed for siblings, which can cover premiums and other healthcare expenses, subject to annual contribution caps.
He added that the CPF Board permits direct premium payments from a sibling’s MediSave on a case-by-case basis if the insured lacks sufficient funds and is financially dependent on the sibling.
Gan Kim Yong assured that no one loses MediShield Life coverage due to affordability issues, as Additional Premium Support is available after subsidies and family help.

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11 Sep 2017

No-claim Discount on Annual MediShield Premiums

Patrick Tay asked whether a no-claim discount could be introduced for MediShield Life premiums to reward policyholders who do not make claims over a period.
The Ministry of Health has no plans to introduce such a discount, as the MediShield Life Review Committee considered and rejected the idea in 2014 due to concerns that it might discourage timely medical treatment and lead to worse health outcomes.
The Ministry instead encourages healthy living through separate initiatives like the Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge and the National Steps Challenge, which offer rewards for healthy choices and physical activity.

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11 Sep 2017

Common Health Problems Detected during General Health Screening for Children

The most common health problems detected during school health screenings in Singapore are myopia, obesity, and scoliosis, with students referred to specialist care as needed.
The Ministry of Health conducts regular reviews of screening tests and preventive programs every three to five years, with the last review completed in 2015.
The government operates a comprehensive screening system from birth, including newborn screenings for congenital conditions and developmental assessments, with referrals for further intervention when necessary.
Mental health support in schools involves teacher training, counsellor referrals, and REACH teams, with peer support encouraged to identify and assist students in distress.
The Ministry considers expanding tests, such as blood tests, ECG, and mental health assessments, but current programs are based on local context and scientific developments.

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