Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

11 May 2015

Take-up Rate for HPV Vaccination Among Eligible Females

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked for the HPV vaccination take-up rate among 9 to 26-year-old females over the last three years and plans to enhance it.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated the HPV vaccine was added to the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 2010, with an Expert Committee recommending it for girls aged 9 to 26.
Based on voluntary MediSave claims, 34,209 persons took up HPV vaccinations from 2012 to 2014.
To boost awareness, information on HPV infection and vaccination is disseminated through print media, healthcare societies, and from May 2015, via the Health Promotion Board's digital platform.
The ministry will continue monitoring vaccination uptake and work to increase public awareness of its benefits.

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11 May 2015

Success and Take-up Rates of Assisted Reproduction Technology Treatments

From 2009 to 2013, the average success rate for IVF treatments resulting in a live birth was 22% in public hospitals and 20% in private institutions.
A total of 11,979 fresh IVF cycles were performed for Singaporean couples during this period, with a 22% success rate.
Over 80% of IVF cycles for Singaporean couples in public hospitals benefited from government co-funding in 2013, which also covers frozen cycles, and couples can use MediSave for IVF in both public and private centers.

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11 May 2015

Plans to Make Sign-up to Nationwide Health Schemes Compulsory for General Practitioners

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked whether the Ministry of Health plans to make it compulsory for general practitioners, family medicine practitioners, and dental practitioners to enrol in the Chronic Disease Management Programme and Community Health Assist Scheme.
The Minister of State for Health responded that while it is not compulsory, the Ministry strongly encourages participation, noting over half of private medical clinics and three-quarters of dental clinics already participate, and efforts will continue to streamline processes and address GP concerns about administrative burden and audits.
MPs highlighted concerns about inadequate coverage in some estates and asked about proactive steps, penetration rates in HDB heartlands, and a timeline for increasing participation, with the Minister replying that no timeline is set but engagement efforts will continue to boost uptake.

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13 Apr 2015

Statistics on Applications for CPF Withdrawals

Since 2007, approximately two-thirds of applications for early CPF withdrawals under the Medical Grounds Scheme were successful, with the main reason for rejection being the inability to provide required medical certification.
Withdrawals are granted differently based on medical grounds: terminally ill members can fully withdraw their retirement savings, while others (permanently incapacitated, severely reduced lifespan, or unsound mind) can withdraw after setting aside a reduced Retirement Sum.
The scheme applies to members with serious medical conditions certified by approved doctors, and the current framework has been in place since July 2006.

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13 Apr 2015

Recipients under Eldershield300, Eldershield400 and Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE)

Chen Show Mao asked for cumulative numbers of ElderShield300, ElderShield400, and IDAPE recipients, those who died before their payout periods ended, and those still needing assistance after their payouts finished.
Gan Kim Yong explained that ElderShield400 pays $400 monthly for up to six years, ElderShield300 pays $300 monthly for up to five years, and IDAPE covers those who could not join ElderShield.
Since 2002, 9,200 have received ElderShield300 payouts, 1,700 ElderShield400, and 14,400 IDAPE, with about 70% fully covered until death and future claims expected to grow.
Those who outlive their payouts can access enhanced government subsidies, and the government is reviewing long-term care financing schemes to improve affordability.

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13 Apr 2015

Update on Public Consultation Exercise on Criteria for Pre-abortion Counselling

The Ministry of Health conducted a public consultation in November 2014 on extending pre-abortion counselling to all pregnant women seeking termination of pregnancy in Singapore.
Based on feedback from healthcare professionals, social workers, and NGOs, MOH decided to extend mandatory pre-abortion counselling to all women, regardless of nationality, educational status, or number of children, effective 17 April 2015.
Existing abortion counsellors will be required to attend a refresher course every two years to update their skills, and the updated guidelines will outline recommended components for pre- and post-abortion counselling.
MOH updated abortion counselling materials and briefed abortion institutions on the enhancements, with a summary of the consultation feedback available on its website.

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13 Apr 2015

Basic Healthcare Sum

Foo Mee Har questioned how the annual increase in the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) would impact the amount of CPF monies members can withdraw from their accounts.
Gan Kim Yong explained that the BHS is adjusted yearly to account for inflation and expanding Medisave uses, ensuring sufficient savings for basic healthcare needs after retirement, and becomes fixed at age 65.
With the removal of the Medisave Minimum Sum from January 2016, CPF members no longer need to transfer funds from other accounts to Medisave to withdraw monies, so their withdrawal amounts from Ordinary and Special Accounts are unaffected by Medisave balances.

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13 Apr 2015

Effectiveness of Salary Review for Public Sector Doctors

Dr Benedict Tan asked if the recent salary review for public sector doctors has succeeded in stopping doctors from moving to the private sector and creating a consistent pay structure across hospitals.
The Minister of State for Health explained that the new pay framework, implemented in two phases in 2012 and 2014, better recognizes doctors' roles in clinical service, education, research, and administration, leading to greater alignment in remuneration principles across institutions.
The Minister noted that beyond pay, the public sector offers unique career opportunities in teaching, research, and leadership, along with efforts to improve work environments, which together have contributed to a decrease in doctors leaving the public sector from 6.5% in 2011 to 5.8% in 2014.
The government plans to continue reviewing and enhancing the value proposition of a public service career to attract and retain good doctors.

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13 Apr 2015

Access to Aircraft Cockpits

All Singapore-based airlines, including budget carriers, enforce a two-person cockpit rule and require pilots to undergo annual mental health assessments, with older pilots tested every six months, aligning with international standards.
Pilots must declare any ill health at any time, and airlines have procedures for confidential reporting of unfit colleagues to authorities or internal systems.
These measures were introduced by Singapore airlines recently, varying by country, with some nations implementing similar rules post-9/11 or after the Germanwings incident.

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12 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health)

Members raised concerns about healthcare affordability, infrastructure, and an ageing population, proposing ideas like a "HealthFuture" account for preventive care and expanding chronic disease coverage under existing schemes.
The Minister outlined progress on Healthcare 2020, including new hospitals, polyclinics, and home care capacity, and announced plans for MediShield Life, a standardised Integrated Shield Plan, and simplifying Medisave rules.
Discussions focused on improving primary and community care, enhancing transparency in drug pricing, and strengthening mental health and rehabilitation services to support an ageing population.

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10 Mar 2015

Withdrawal of Incidence-occurrence Medical Indemnity Plans by UK-based Medical Protection Society

The UK-based Medical Protection Society (MPS) is transitioning obstetricians and gynaecologists (OGs) in Singapore from occurrence-based to claims-based medical indemnity plans, which only cover claims made during the policy period and may require additional tail cover for future claims.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that while claims-based plans typically have lower premiums, OGs face challenges in securing adequate coverage due to this change, prompting the Ministry of Health (MOH) to engage stakeholders.
MOH is actively discussing the issue with professional bodies representing OGs to address their concerns and explore measures to ensure continuous and appropriate professional indemnity coverage.

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3 Mar 2015

Provision of Caregiver Allowance

Christopher de Souza proposed a caregiver allowance framework for those caring for elderly relatives, children with special needs, or disabled family members, highlighting the need for financial support.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong outlined existing support measures, including reduced foreign domestic worker levies, tax reliefs, financial schemes like the FDW Grant and ElderShield, and services such as caregiver training and respite care.
Gan Kim Yong expressed reservations about introducing a direct caregiver allowance, fearing it could monetise family values, but committed to continuing research on enhanced caregiver support.

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3 Mar 2015

Technological Advances to Assist SCDF in Fighting Fires and Attending to Emergency Cases in Ambulances

The Minister highlighted that SCDF continuously develops technology suited for Singapore, learning from international best practices, and uses advanced simulators and new equipment like the Red Rhino for improved firefighting and urban mobility.
SCDF has introduced unmanned firefighting machines that operate remotely in hazardous conditions and have been successfully deployed in industrial fires since 2014.
In emergency medical services, SCDF equips ambulances with automated external defibrillators that transmit live ECG data, enabling hospitals to prepare cardiac teams for faster intervention and improve patient survival rates.

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12 Feb 2015

Phase 2 of Roll-out for National Electronic Health Records

Mr Gerald Giam asked about the components, budget, timeline, and the target of achieving "One Patient, One Health Record" for Phase 2 of the NEHR.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that Phase 2 will introduce new IT functions like the Continuity of Care Record and data analytics to support care integration and decision-making.
The government is not revealing the budget for Phase 2 at this stage due to ongoing procurement processes, and the NEHR rollout will be staged over many years.
The vision of "One Patient, One Health Record" is already partially realized in the public sector, and the government is encouraging private providers to join to achieve this goal fully.

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12 Feb 2015

Private GPs' Access to National Electronic Health Records

About 550 private GP clinics (37% of 1,500) have access to the National Electronic Health Records (NEHR) as of February 2015, with adoption hampered by concerns over workflow changes, costs, and IT unfamiliarity.
GPs generally find NEHR access improves patient care, and the Ministry of Health continues to engage users to address concerns and enhance the system.
EMRs contain detailed transactional records within hospitals, while NEHR summarizes health journeys; relevant data is automatically extracted from EMRs to NEHR.
Progressive NEHR rollout means data is collected over time, with clinicians verifying patient history to ensure appropriate care.

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12 Feb 2015

Foreign-trained Medical Specialists with Provisional Licence to Practise in Singapore

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked for statistics on foreign-trained medical specialists with provisional licences over five years, including those granted full registration and their current employment in public versus private practice.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that 375 non-Singaporean foreign-trained specialists received conditional registration to work in public hospitals since 2010, requiring two years of supervised practice.
Of these, 121 successfully completed supervision and were granted full registration, and all remained practising in public hospitals as of end-2014.

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12 Feb 2015

Requirement for Employers to Offer Healthcare Insurance for Re-employed Workers

The Ministry of Manpower encourages employers to provide health insurance for senior workers beyond the re-employment age, noting that many already offer inpatient medical benefits and that incentives exist for employers to enhance such benefits.
The tripartite workgroup is exploring ways to improve portable medical benefits to complement MediShield Life, which provides lifelong healthcare coverage for all Singaporeans, including older citizens.
Employers are legally required to provide work injury insurance for manual workers and non-manual workers earning $1,600 or below, regardless of age, when re-employed.
The government is promoting the employment of workers beyond the current re-employment age of 65 and may consider extending it to 67, while continuing to encourage companies to maintain medical benefits for older workers.

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29 Jan 2015

MediShield Life Scheme Bill

The MediShield Life Scheme Bill establishes a mandatory, universal insurance scheme providing lifelong coverage for all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, including those with pre-existing conditions, with enhanced benefits such as no lifetime claim limit and higher annual claim limits.
To ensure affordability, the government introduced permanent premium subsidies for lower- to middle-income households, additional subsidies for the Pioneer Generation, transitional subsidies for all citizens, and a self-sustaining fund supported by premiums with government support, while penalties and recovery measures are reserved for wilful defaulters.
The debate highlighted ongoing concerns about premium sustainability, the handling of pre-existing conditions, data privacy safeguards, and the need for continued public education and compassionate implementation to support vulnerable groups.

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29 Jan 2015

Setting Medisave Minimum Sum by Cohort

The Medisave Minimum Sum is adjusted yearly to account for healthcare inflation, longer life expectancies, and expanded Medisave uses, unlike the CPF Minimum Sum which is fixed at age 55 to provide a constant retirement payout stream.
Members do not need to top up their Medisave Minimum Sum to use funds for approved healthcare expenses, but they must top it up to the prevailing sum before withdrawing excess CPF savings after age 55.
The government will not waive the Medisave Minimum Sum even for those with comprehensive health insurance, as it ensures adequate savings for future healthcare expenses, including premiums, and will not be reduced despite the implementation of MediShield Life.

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29 Jan 2015

Criteria for Usage of Funds under Flexi-Medisave Scheme

The government introduced the Flexi-Medisave Scheme allowing elderly aged 65 and above to use up to $200 of Medisave annually for outpatient treatment at public and CHAS-participating GP clinics, separate from other Medisave limits like the $400 Chronic Disease Management Programme and $300 outpatient scans.
The scheme covers consultation fees, tests, drugs, and other medical services for diagnosis or treatment but excludes non-medical or non-essential items such as cosmetic procedures or retail skincare products.
In response to a suggestion, the Minister of State noted that the scheme currently allows use from the patient’s own or spouse’s Medisave account but will consider expanding it to include children’s or other family members’ accounts in future reviews.

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