Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

4 Nov 2025

Reducing Average Waiting Time for Beds in Nursing Homes

Vikram Nair inquired about the current average waiting time for nursing home beds and potential measures to reduce it.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the median waiting time for a nursing home bed is approximately one month and is influenced by care needs and family preferences.
The Ministry of Health plans to increase nursing home capacity from over 20,000 beds to 31,000 beds by 2030 and will monitor waiting times and utilization rates.

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4 Nov 2025

Possible Integration of Lifestyle Medicine as Preventive Care under Healthier SG

Ms. Mariam Jaafar inquired about the integration of lifestyle medicine into preventive care under the Healthier SG initiative.
Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed that elements of lifestyle medicine, including nutrition and physical activity, are already part of the Healthier SG Care Protocols.
The Healthier SG initiative has developed 22 Care Protocols to assist family doctors in promoting healthy lifestyles and managing chronic diseases.
More Care Protocols will be introduced progressively as part of the ongoing efforts in Healthier SG.

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4 Nov 2025

Current Training Certification towards Lifestyle Medicine Competencies for Healthcare Professionals

Ms. Mariam Jaafar inquired about existing and developing training or certification pathways for healthcare professionals in lifestyle medicine competencies.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that promoting healthy lifestyle habits is a core component of the education for healthcare students, including those in medical and nursing programs.

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4 Nov 2025

Expansion of Target Screening and Counselling for Women Aged 40 to 50 in Primary Care and Community Settings

Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the expansion of targeted screening and counselling for women aged 40-59 in primary care, including training for GPs on menopause and the scaling of menopause support programs.
Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed that existing healthcare frameworks already include screening and counselling pathways for women in this age group, as well as menopause management.
Under the Healthier SG initiative, women are encouraged to screen for cardiovascular risk factors and various cancers, with primary care doctors trained to address menopause-related health issues.
Additional support for women experiencing menopause is available through public resources and interest groups like "Dynamite Daisies," which focus on women's health awareness and support.

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4 Nov 2025

Slowdown on Hiring of New Nursing Degree Graduates and/or Early-Career Nurses at Restructured Hospitals

Patrick Tay raised concerns about a potential slowdown in hiring new nursing degree and diploma holders, as well as early-career nurses in restructured hospitals since 2025.
Ong Ye Kung responded that there is still strong hiring interest for local nurses in the public healthcare system, with hiring numbers comparable to previous years.
Ong noted that some applicants have specific preferences for work locations and shift patterns, which may not align with the needs of hiring institutions.
He encouraged nursing graduates to be more flexible with their work conditions to enhance their experience.

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4 Nov 2025

New Initiatives for Support and Outreach to Senior Caregivers with Dependents

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about new initiatives to support senior caregivers, especially those living alone with dependents.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Government is enhancing support measures, including higher subsidies for long-term care and adult disability services starting next year.
The Home Caregiving Grant will also see an increase to better assist those caring for individuals with moderate disabilities at home.
The Silver Generation Office will continue outreach efforts to connect senior caregivers with community resources and support activities.

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4 Nov 2025

Timeline Updates on Roll-out Plan for Active Ageing Centres within Private Estates

Ms. Valerie Lee inquired about the roll-out plan for Active Ageing Centres (AACs) in private estates, including timelines and the possibility of expediting the process.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that establishing an AAC typically takes about two years due to challenges in site selection and operational setup.
The Ministry of Health aims to expand AACs in private estates over the next three years to serve an additional 20,000 seniors.
Collaboration with agencies and Grassroots Advisors will continue to identify suitable locations for AACs in private estates.

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4 Nov 2025

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Screened among Women Aged 40 to 59 in Public Primary Care over Past Five Years

Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among women aged 40 to 59 in public primary care over the past five years and the wait times for these services.
A study by the National Healthcare Group revealed that 8.7% of patients screened positive for clinical depression and 7.3% for anxiety symptoms, with about half of those being female.
Patients are initially assessed in general clinics and referred to dedicated mental health clinics as needed, with urgent cases receiving prioritized appointments.
The average wait time from the initial assessment to the mental health clinic is approximately 26 days.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Current Healthcare Subsidy Schemes for Special Needs Children and Identifying Potential Subsidy Coverage Gaps

Ms. Elysa Chen inquired about the tracking of data on special needs children benefiting from healthcare subsidy schemes and potential gaps in coverage.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that the Ministry does not specifically track the number of special needs children receiving subsidies.
Healthcare subsidies are allocated based on medical needs and household income, prioritizing assistance for lower-income families.

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4 Nov 2025

Standardising and Capping Medical Report Fees for Activation of LPA across Different Hospitals to Prevent Disparities

David Hoe raised concerns about the significant disparities in medical report fees for activating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) across different hospitals.
He suggested that the Ministry of Health should consider standardising and capping these fees to alleviate financial burdens on families.
Hoe also proposed the idea of providing means-tested subsidies or financial assistance for families needing help with LPA activation costs.
Ong Ye Kung explained that fees are set based on cost recovery for manpower and administrative expenses, with variations due to the complexity of cases.
He mentioned that patients facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers at public healthcare institutions.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Out-of-Pocket Spending for Chronic Diseases by CHAS Card Tier and Income Decile and Plans for Further Subsidies

Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the out-of-pocket spending for CHAS cardholders with chronic diseases, including data on spending distribution, utilization rates, and medication subsidies.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) lacks specific data on annual out-of-pocket costs for CHAS cardholders by income decile and card tier, but noted that 14% of cardholders utilized chronic subsidies in 2024.
MOH indicated that not all CHAS cardholders with chronic conditions use the subsidies, as some may manage care through other means.
The ministry regularly reviews CHAS subsidies to ensure they remain adequate in light of rising healthcare costs.
Most common chronic medications are included in the Standard Drug List and Medication Assistance Fund List.

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4 Nov 2025

Criteria for Inclusion in Chronic Disease Management Programme and Reasons for Non-inclusion of Eczema

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the criteria for including medical conditions in the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) and the reasons for eczema's current non-inclusion.
Minister Ong Ye Kung referenced a previous parliamentary response detailing the criteria used by the Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC) for CDMP inclusion.
The assessment of eczema-related conditions for potential inclusion in the CDMP is ongoing.

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4 Nov 2025

Ambulance Accessibility Issues at Private Condominiums and Emergency Response Mitigation Measures

Ms. Valerie Lee raised concerns about the accessibility of SCDF ambulances to private condominiums, particularly regarding height restrictions in carparks.
K Shanmugam responded that SCDF ambulances need a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres, while many private carparks only provide 2.2 metres.
In cases of restricted access, ambulance crews coordinate with condominium management to find alternative routes to reach patients.
The SCDF and Building and Construction Authority issued a joint advisory in March 2024 to improve ambulance access, recommending a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres for new buildings.

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4 Nov 2025

Data on Suicides and Attempted Suicides among Seniors above 60

Jackson Lam inquired about suicide and attempted suicide rates among seniors aged 60 and above, seeking data disaggregated by age, gender, race, and housing type, as well as information on psychosocial factors and existing prevention programs.
Ong Ye Kung responded that while annual suicide data for seniors is publicly available, it does not include breakdowns by race and housing type, and noted a general decline in elderly suicide cases over the past five years, with male deaths being approximately double that of females.
He highlighted that suicide is influenced by multiple factors, including relationship issues and mental health conditions, and mentioned the lack of comprehensive data on suicide attempts.
Ong outlined available support services, including the national mindline and SOS Hotline for crisis support, and initiatives by the Silver Generation Office to connect vulnerable seniors with mental health resources and community programs.

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4 Nov 2025

Protocols for Triaging and Referral of Scam Victims with Signs of Acute Psychological Distress

Elysa Chen inquired about the existence of protocols for triaging and referring scam victims experiencing acute psychological distress.
K Shanmugam confirmed that scam victims can be referred to the Victim Care Cadre Programme for psychological support.
Trained Victim Care Officers provide psychological first aid and can connect victims to additional community and professional resources for ongoing support.

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4 Nov 2025

Mental and Emotional Well-being Support for Educators in Special Education Schools

The Minister for Education acknowledged the challenges faced by educators in special education schools and emphasized the importance of their mental and emotional well-being.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) collaborates with Social Service Agencies to enhance support for SPED teachers, including initiatives shared in a previous parliamentary session.
MOE has established SPED Communities of Practice to foster peer support and professional collaboration among teachers.
Efforts are being made to manage teacher workload sustainably, including recruitment initiatives and exploring digital solutions to reduce administrative tasks.
Many SPED schools have implemented dedicated well-being committees to provide practical support for teachers in managing stress and promoting self-care.

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4 Nov 2025

Considerations when Allocating Counsellors to Schools

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about how the Ministry of Education allocates counsellors based on reported caseloads and whether this accurately reflects student needs.
Desmond Lee clarified that school counsellor allocation is based on student engagement and various indicators, including referrals and termly check-ins, rather than limited access to counsellors.
The Ministry supports educators' mental health through separate programs and does not factor this into counsellor allocation.
Schools can increase their counselling capacity by hiring additional flexi-adjunct counsellors when needed.
The Ministry collaborates with community resources to enhance youth mental health support, providing students with access to various mental health services.

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4 Nov 2025

Statistics on Mobile Dental Clinics Serving Schools without Dental Clinics

Ms. Nadia Ahmad Samdin inquired about the number of mobile dental clinics serving schools without dental clinics, their waiting times, and visit frequency.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that there are 30 mobile dental clinics serving secondary and Special Education schools, which visit each school once a year.
He noted that there is no need for schools to book appointments for the mobile clinics, and most primary schools already have dental clinics on-site.

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4 Nov 2025

Collecting Sector-specific Data on Employee Stress, Burnout, Anxiety and Depression

Dr. Wan Rizal proposed that the Ministry for Manpower should establish a process to collect data on employee stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression by sector and occupation.
The Ministry of Manpower currently gathers insights on workplace mental health through anonymized data from the voluntary iWorkHealth tool.
Efforts are being made to encourage more employers to participate in iWorkHealth to enhance data collection.
The Ministry of Manpower is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to improve the collection and analysis of mental health data at sectoral and occupational levels.

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4 Nov 2025

Mental Health Assessments for Police, Police NSFs and Auxiliary Police Officers Handling Firearms

Questions were raised regarding the mental health assessments for police national servicemen (NSFs) and auxiliary police officers (APOs) authorized to carry firearms, including the frequency of assessments and the role of peer or supervisor reports in disarmament decisions.
The Minister for Home Affairs confirmed that psychological assessments are conducted during recruitment and enlistment, and ongoing evaluations are made to ensure officers' suitability to carry firearms.
The Singapore Police Force emphasizes mental well-being through a Psychological Fitness Training Framework, providing resilience training, workshops, and support systems for officers facing psychological distress.
Officers have access to a variety of psychological support services, including in-house services, peer support programs, a 24/7 helpline, and external counseling, with annual campaigns to raise mental health awareness.
Auxiliary Police Forces also offer mental health support through briefings, training, employee assistance programs, and access to professional counseling services.

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