Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

20 Jan 2015

Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme

Mrs Lina Chiam asked if the Healthcare Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) would include perfusionists, podiatrists, respiratory therapists, and physician assistants.
The Minister for Health, Gan Kim Yong, stated that the programme currently focuses on roles with critical manpower shortages and sufficient training capacity, such as nurses and physiotherapists, and there are no plans to expand it to the requested roles.
Instead, the Ministry provides overseas scholarships for podiatry and respiratory therapy, in-house training for perfusionists, and is reviewing future healthcare roles, including physician assistants.

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20 Jan 2015

Tracking and Controlling Populations of Pests

The Minister explained that while statistics on some vectors like flies and cockroaches are unavailable, the National Environment Agency (NEA) actively monitors disease-bearing vectors and implements integrated control programmes, including treating over 35,000 rodent burrows in 2014 and piloting Gravitrap surveillance for mosquitoes.
New measures include tighter enforcement at high-risk premises like construction sites, with 120 Stop Work Orders issued, and exploration of biological control using Wolbachia-carrying male mosquitoes to suppress dengue-carrying mosquito populations.
The Minister highlighted the importance of public responsibility and stakeholder cooperation, noting NEA’s collaboration with Town Councils on rodent control and increased enforcement officers to address unhygienic practices in food establishments.
In response to queries about increased rodent sightings and pigeon nuisance, the Minister emphasized eliminating food sources as the key to rodent control and indicated that pigeon issues would be addressed separately, with no current updates on dengue vaccines.

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20 Jan 2015

Medical Support for National Athletes

Benedict Tan questioned the lack of a full-time Sports Physician at the Singapore Sports Institute for two years and asked about ensuring adequate medical support for national athletes.
Minister Lawrence Wong explained that the SSI sports medical centre uses visiting physicians, in-house physiotherapists, and partnerships with three public hospitals to provide medical care, and efforts are underway to hire a full-time Sports Physician.
Benedict Tan highlighted the need for both in-house capabilities and network resources for athlete-specific research and asked if the current network model is permanent or interim.
The Minister emphasized timely medical support for athletes, noted that a mix of in-house and partner capabilities is the approach, and mentioned ongoing efforts to strengthen in-house teams and preventive measures like injury-prevention workshops.

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20 Jan 2015

Diseases Prevalent among Malay Community

The Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board have noted higher rates of kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes among Malays, linked to lifestyle factors like obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise.
Targeted programs such as culturally tailored workshops, Ramadan smoking cessation campaigns, and health calendars are being rolled out to address these issues within the Malay community.
Research through national surveys guides these initiatives, and the Ministry plans to continue refining strategies based on data and community feedback.

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20 Jan 2015

Administering Different Drugs and Treatment for Same Medical Conditions

K Karthikeyan questioned whether hospitals administer different drugs and treatments for the same medical conditions based on private or subsidised wards, and if the Ministry conducts checks on such practices.
Dr Amy Khor clarified that public hospitals provide care based on clinical needs, not subsidy status, using generic drugs where appropriate, with differences due to individual patient conditions rather than ward type.
The Ministry highlighted governance frameworks like accreditation committees and peer reviews to ensure clinically appropriate care, and assistance is provided for lower-income patients needing non-subsidised treatments.
K Karthikeyan shared an anecdote where a patient felt he received inferior painkillers due to being in a C-class ward, prompting Dr Amy Khor to explain clinical guidelines for pain management and reaffirm that treatment is not based on subsidy status.

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19 Jan 2015

Public Awareness of Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Issues and Measures to Boost Manpower for Palliative Care Sector

The Ministry of Health is partnering community groups and launching campaigns to raise public awareness of advance care planning and end-of-life issues, including the Both Sides Now campaign and a three-year Community Outreach Programme by the Singapore Hospice Council.
Initiatives include training healthcare professionals and volunteers as advance care planning advocates and facilitators to guide patients and families in these discussions.
To boost palliative care manpower, the government aims to double doctors, nurses, and medical social workers from about 150 in 2012 to 300 by 2020 through enhanced funding for home palliative care, new training programs for family physicians, and staff retention measures like salary increases.
The sector has already seen a one-third increase in palliative care staff between 2012 and 2014, from 150 to 205, and growth will be monitored to meet the needs of an ageing population.
The government plans to continue expanding palliative care services in the short and long term through these integrated manpower and awareness strategies.

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19 Jan 2015

Synergy among Mental Health Professionals to Ensure Patient Follow-up Treatment

The Ministry of Health uses a multidisciplinary approach in public hospitals and community mental health teams, assigning lead clinicians to coordinate care with doctors, nurses, and allied professionals.
Follow-up for patients who do not return to IMH is supported through post-discharge programmes, telephonic case management, home visits, and community-based care delivered by VWOs and social agencies, benefiting over 18,000 clients in two years.
Affordability is addressed through enhanced MediShield coverage for inpatient psychiatric treatment, Medisave use for outpatient conditions, and workplace health promotion grants to fund mental health initiatives and counselling services.

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19 Jan 2015

Educational Sponsorships and Training Allowance for Health Professionals

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the number of educational sponsorships for nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists, their training allowances, and potential increases.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that MOH provides scholarships and sponsorships covering tuition, maintenance, and salaries, with over 1,000 awards in the past five years and about 200 in FY2014.
The Ministry regularly reviews these programmes to ensure benefits remain adequate and aligned with healthcare needs, though no specific details on current allowance amounts or future raises were provided.

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19 Jan 2015

Child Eczema Cases in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the number of children with eczema in Singapore over the past five years, whether cases have increased, and if eczema could be included in the chronic disease subsidy scheme.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that MOH does not routinely track total eczema cases but noted that between 2010 and 2013, about 1% of children under 16 visited polyclinics or public clinics for eczema annually, with others treated privately.
He explained that the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) covers 15 conditions based on prevalence and intervention effectiveness, and there are currently no plans to include eczema, though subsidies are available at polyclinics, specialist clinics, and GP clinics for eligible Singaporeans.

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19 Jan 2015

Regional Health Systems and Progress and Plan for Integration of Healthcare Services

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef inquired about the progress and plans for integrating healthcare services across primary, tertiary, step-down, intermediate, long-term, and community-based care under the Regional Health Systems (RHS).
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that RHS aims to strengthen partnerships across public and private care providers to deliver integrated care, with ongoing programmes in preventive health, chronic disease management, and care for frail patients.
Preventive health initiatives include community-based health screenings and lifestyle programmes, such as in Taman Jurong where over 12,000 residents have benefited from partnerships between Juronghealth System, grassroots organisations, and family medicine clinics.
For chronic disease management, RHS integrates care between specialist clinics and primary care providers, like the Frontier FMC and NUH partnership, which has benefited over 2,000 patients through data linkages, fewer appointments, and cost savings.
RHS also focuses on frail patients through programmes like Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s Ageing-In-Place, which has helped over 3,000 patients with home-based monitoring, coordination of medical and non-medical services, and improved self-care.

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19 Jan 2015

Pioneer Generation Package Take-up Rate at Polyclinics, Specialist Outpatient Clinics and Private Medical and Dental Clinics

The Pioneer Generation Package provides an additional 50% off subsidised services at polyclinics and specialist outpatient clinics (SOCs) since September 2014, and also includes special subsidies for private clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).
From September to November 2014, about 300,000 unique Pioneer patients visited subsidised SOCs, polyclinics, or CHAS clinics, with individual visit figures of 250,000 to SOCs, 330,000 to polyclinics, and 340,000 to CHAS clinics.
Pioneers received a total of $27 million in additional special subsidies during this three-month period for these visits.

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19 Jan 2015

Regulations for Testing and Management of Clinical Conditions in Private Healthcare Sector

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef inquired about stricter regulations for testing and management in private healthcare, aligning with MOH’s clinical practice guidelines.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained that MOH has published guidelines since 1998 to guide both public and private sectors on best practices for conditions like diabetes and stroke.
He noted that these guidelines help develop clinical programmes and audits, such as for chronic disease management under Medisave.
The Ministry plans to strengthen its guideline framework to ensure appropriate care and prevent over-consumption.

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19 Jan 2015

Implementation of New Enhanced Nursing Home Standards

The Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care launched a guide and voluntary baseline assessments to help nursing homes prepare for the new Enhanced Nursing Home Standards, with over 90% of homes participating.
Baseline assessments identified key areas for improvement, including care planning, emergency preparedness, and new requirements like advanced care planning and dignity of care.
Training programs with subsidies up to 90% were conducted, with over 200 runs and 4,000 training places provided in 2014, and additional training planned for 2015.
The standards will be implemented in April 2015 with a one-year grace period before enforcement in April 2016, with ongoing support to help nursing homes meet the requirements.

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19 Jan 2015

Death from Food Poisoning

Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan raised concerns about the death of a boy from food poisoning at a Northpoint food court, questioning why the case was not publicized immediately, the number of recent poisoning deaths, and measures to prevent recurrence.
The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan, stated that NEA inspected the stall on the day of notification, suspended its license due to hygiene lapses, and imposed fines after court action, with no other fatalities since 2010.
The Ministry emphasized stricter enforcement, increased penalties for hygiene violations, and the importance of food handlers practicing good hygiene to ensure public safety.

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19 Jan 2015

MediShield Life Scheme Bill

The Minister for Health introduced the MediShield Life Scheme Bill to provide for the Scheme and related matters, with consequential amendments to other laws.
The Bill was presented, read the First time, and scheduled for Second Reading at the next Parliament Sitting.
The debate centered on establishing the legal framework for MediShield Life and ensuring alignment with existing health insurance regulations.

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19 Jan 2015

Conditional Accreditation for Foreign Medical Specialists to Practise in Singapore

Benedict Tan proposed a conditional accreditation scheme to allow foreign medical specialists to practice only in public hospitals, addressing shortages in specialties and new hospital openings, with indefinite public-sector restrictions rather than the current two-year supervision period.
The Minister confirmed that a conditional registration scheme already exists, requiring foreign specialists to be accredited by the Specialists Accreditation Board and undergo supervision in public hospitals, with most achieving full registration and some remaining conditionally registered.
Tan clarified that his proposal aims to prevent foreign doctors from moving to the private sector after supervision, suggesting an indefinite public-sector limit, but the Minister noted challenges in standardizing international training and offered case-by-case reviews.
Lim Wee Kiak asked about the percentage of foreign doctors leaving for private practice after full accreditation and whether bilateral agreements exist for doctor recognition, but the Minister provided partial data on current conditional registrants and requested a separate question for detailed figures.

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19 Jan 2015

Allocation of Funds from Increase in Public Healthcare Expenditure

The Parliamentary Secretary explained that 15–20% of public healthcare expenditures are allocated to administrative overheads, which is comparable to or lower than many other countries, and that resources are distributed to institutions based on workload, service type, and case complexity through regularly reviewed block budgets.
In response to concerns about potential unintended incentives from key performance indicators, the Ministry emphasises a holistic performance framework, robust costing exercises, institutional governance, and professional clinical judgment to ensure patient care remains the priority.
Officials noted there is no universal benchmark for administrative spending, and while administrative headcounts may be rising due to ageing population demands and service expansion, the focus remains on maintaining operational efficiency without compromising patient needs.

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5 Nov 2014

Types and Relapse Rates of Mental Illnesses amongst Singaporeans

The top mental illnesses affecting Singaporeans are dementia, depression, and anxiety, with relapse rates showing over 50% for depression and about 27% for anxiety over three years.
Healthcare facilities monitor relapse through tracking "no-show" cases, conducting home visits, and using community support teams to identify early warning signs and provide timely intervention.
The government has increased psychiatrist training and established community-based mental health services, including multidisciplinary teams, to improve accessibility and support for patients in reintegration.
Programs like IMH’s job placement, employer partnerships, and workplace mental health initiatives aim to help patients reintegrate into society and the workplace, with support for employers and colleagues.
Community engagement efforts involve grassroots organizations and volunteers to educate and link residents with mental health services, enhancing early detection and support.

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4 Nov 2014

Medical Disciplinary Cases where Courts Reduced Legal Costs to be Paid by Losing Parties

Between 2011 and 2013, seven out of 44 SMC disciplinary cases had their legal costs taxed down, with reductions ranging from 37% to 78%, totaling about $926,000 in costs that were not recovered from the losing parties.
The Minister explained that taxation determines the share of costs borne by the losing party when disputed, often resulting in a gap between the winning party’s incurred costs and what is recoverable.
SMC paid the legal fees in each taxed case and emphasized the need to pursue disciplinary actions to protect patient interests, even if costs are high, while ensuring fees remain reasonable.

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4 Nov 2014

Update on Benefits of Community Health Assist Scheme

The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) currently benefits around 1.1 million Singaporeans, including Pioneer Generation members, with subsidies totalling $42 million given to 260,000 people in the first eight months of 2014.
The Ministry of Health is working with grassroots and other organizations to increase CHAS enrollment among eligible Singaporeans and expand the number of participating GP and dental clinics.
MOH actively monitors CHAS claims, conducts audits, and engages clinics to prevent overcharging, while encouraging transparency in fees and patient-doctor communication.

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