Health

• The debate focused on the need for safeguards to prevent unsustainable private insurance practices from impacting public hospital charges and to keep insurance premiums affordable.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasized that public healthcare is managed through clinical protocols and value-driven programs to maintain cost sustainability and affordable premiums for MediShield Life.
• He highlighted that overly generous coverage in Integrated Shield Plans can distort healthcare costs, potentially leading patients to seek public healthcare when private options become too expensive.
• The Ministry of Health is working with various stakeholders, including doctors, hospitals, insurers, and policyholders, to address the rising costs of private healthcare and insurance premiums.

• Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim inquired about the practice of multiple sourcing for drugs and services in public hospitals to ensure competitive pricing and suggested a systematic productivity extraction factor to benefit patients.
• Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry of Health has established the Agency of Logistics and Procurement Services to enhance procurement efficiency and supply resiliency through multiple supplier contracts.
• He noted that productivity extraction is not commonly practiced in the healthcare sector globally and mentioned a shift to capitation funding to encourage value maximization in public healthcare.
• The Ministry will continue to monitor healthcare expenditures to maintain affordability for Singaporeans.

• Ms. Gho Sze Kee raised concerns about the need for enhanced training and protocols for healthcare professionals who interact with grieving families of deceased organ donors.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the Ministry of Health currently provides regular training for healthcare professionals on sensitive communication with these families and has no plans for further enhancements.
• The Ministry issues information packages about the Human Organ Transplant Act to all citizens and PRs turning 21 to encourage informed discussions about organ donation.
• Public awareness campaigns, such as the Live On Festival, are supported to promote conversations about organ donation among various population segments, including older individuals.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the average population-to-facility size ratio for polyclinics and specifically for those in Sengkang and Punggol.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry of Health does not use a population-to-facility size ratio for planning polyclinics.
• The Ministry considers various factors, including resident demographics and the presence of private clinics, to assess demand for polyclinic services.
• Demand projections inform the development plans for polyclinics across Singapore.

• Dr. Wan Rizal inquired about the integration of the IMH's suicide warning sign framework into school and polyclinic standard operating procedures and requested data on gatekeeper training coverage and response times.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung indicated that the question was previously addressed in an oral reply during a parliamentary session on October 14, 2025.

• Mr. Darryl David inquired about the last salary review for allied health professionals, key findings, and follow-up actions taken by the government.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed that the last salary review for allied health professionals was implemented in July 2025, resulting in salary increases of up to 7%.
• The Ministry of Health will regularly monitor the remuneration packages of healthcare workers to maintain market competitiveness.

• David Hoe inquired about the Ministry of Health's plans to integrate multiple public health apps into a single platform with a common design and interoperability features.
• Ong Ye Kung confirmed that the Ministry plans to consolidate existing health apps into one by 2027, aiming for inclusivity and ease of navigation.
• The new app will support Singapore's four official languages and assistive technologies for users with visual impairments.
• Ongoing reviews of functionalities and user interface improvements will be part of the development process.

• Concerns were raised about the mental well-being of preschool educators due to heavy workloads, administrative demands, and limited leave options affecting their work-life balance.
• The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) acknowledges the importance of supporting educators' well-being to enhance their effectiveness in their roles.
• ECDA has established a relief staff pool to address short-term manpower needs when educators are on leave and is implementing digital solutions to streamline workloads and improve productivity.
• Ongoing initiatives and support for educators' well-being include Continuing Professional Development courses focused on resilience and self-care practices.

• Mr. Gabriel Lam inquired about plans to expand Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) and Community Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) capacities in response to potential increases in etomidate-related admissions, as well as staffing and rehabilitation program adjustments.
• He also requested information on the current capacities of DRC and CRC, trends in admissions over the past five years, and the impact of etomidate's classification under the Misuse of Drugs Act on these facilities.
• Minister K Shanmugam reported a general increase in DRC and CRC admissions from 2020 to 2024, with current capacities at 76% for DRC and 28% for CRC, and noted that no admissions for etomidate abuse had occurred as of October 2025.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring capacity and resources closely to accommodate new admissions and is committed to enhancing rehabilitation programs and community reintegration support for released inmates.
• DRC inmates who are etomidate abusers will be placed under a supervision regime in the community post-release, with ongoing monitoring by the Ministry of Health and collaboration with community partners for effective support.

• Mr. Foo Cexiang proposed expanding CareShield Life coverage to individuals under 30 or allowing exceptional coverage on appeal based on individual circumstances.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that CareShield Life is designed for those aged 30 and above, as they are typically in the workforce and can afford premiums through MediSave.
• Extending coverage to those under 30 could lead to adverse selection, increasing premiums for all policyholders due to higher claim likelihood from younger enrollees.
• Young individuals with disabilities can access alternative government support schemes, such as the Home Caregiving Grant and MediFund, instead of CareShield Life.

• Ms. He Ting Ru raised concerns about a pharmaceutical company's campaign labeling obesity as a chronic disease and inquired about feedback and investigations by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
• Ong Ye Kung clarified that advertisements must comply with HSA regulations and that educational campaigns on diseases are allowed as they serve public health purposes.
• The HSA found no non-compliance with the obesity campaign and advised consumers to seek professional help for obesity management.

• Mr. Cai Yinzhou inquired about the measures used to track improvements in quality of life and healthspan under the Age Well SG initiative, specifically regarding social isolation and benchmarks for progress.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that tracking the impact of national preventive health programs like Age Well SG is complex, but they monitor attendance and outreach numbers.
• The Ministry of Health also tracks long-term indicators such as frailty prevalence, chronic disease prevalence, and health-adjusted life expectancy.
• There is an expectation for academic research to further assess the impact of these health initiatives over time.

• Dr. Hamid Razak inquired about the uptake of the Hospital Clinician Scheme across various specialties and the support for doctors' retention and career development.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that the Hospital Clinician (HC) track is distinct from other medical career paths and focuses on broad-based competencies to coordinate care.
• Currently, there are about 150 HCs in public healthcare, with ongoing efforts to enhance the attractiveness of the HC scheme through professional development and remuneration reviews.
• The Ministry of Health monitors patient care outcomes to inform the evolution of the care team model, emphasizing the role of HCs in addressing the needs of an aging population.
• Initiatives are in place to inform medical students about the HC track, including clinical rotations, career guidance talks, and an annual careers day to encourage consideration of all medical career paths.

• Dr. Wan Rizal raised concerns about the need for standard clinical pathways linking schools, primary care, and emergency departments for adolescents at risk of self-harm, suggesting the implementation of coverage targets for gatekeeper training and a 24/7 pediatric crisis line.
• The Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr. Koh Poh Koon, acknowledged the complexity of suicide risk assessment and outlined existing mental health support structures, including the national mindline 1771 for immediate counseling and referrals.
• Dr. Wan Rizal emphasized the importance of establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for timely intervention in mental health crises and suggested publicizing a flowchart for crisis pathways across various organizations.
• Dr. Koh Poh Koon responded that setting specific KPIs for mental health interventions is challenging due to the individualized nature of care, but highlighted efforts to improve access to mental health services and the availability of a practice guide with a flowchart for care providers.
• The discussion underscored the need for collaboration among schools, healthcare providers, and mental health services to ensure effective support for youths facing mental health challenges.

• Vikram Nair raised concerns about mental health issues among students and the need for more measures, citing suicide as a leading cause of death in youths.
• The Ministry of Education (MOE) conducts research and monitors student mental health, utilizing studies like the Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study and the National Youth Mental Health Study.
• MOE implements various initiatives, including updated mental health education, collaboration with other government agencies, and the Parenting for Wellness initiative to support students and parents.
• Nair inquired about specific studies on youth suicide cases to inform early intervention strategies, but the MOE did not have detailed data on this issue.
• The MOE emphasized a tiered intervention approach, equipping teachers and school counselors to identify distress signs and collaborate with healthcare teams for student support.

• The Ministry of Health does not currently track social media and gaming addictions among youths but offers counselling and intervention programs through organizations like TOUCH Community Services and WE CARE Community Services.
• The Ministry is reviewing medical evidence on these addictions and collaborating with the National Council of Social Service to enhance access to addiction support services.
• Parents concerned about their children's potential addictions are encouraged to seek guidance from resources like Mindline.sg or the national mindline 1771 for support and intervention strategies.
• Effective intervention requires cooperation from the youth, and initial steps may involve building trust through befriending before formal treatment can begin.

Yip Hon Weng asked if the Ministry of Health could simplify access to the Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) by allowing medical social workers or GPs to initiate caregiver applications during healthcare encounters, and how they would outreach to eligible caregivers. Ong Ye Kung responded that healthcare professionals can already assist with HCG applications and highlighted recent improvements to increase access to financial support schemes. He mentioned processes in place to help care recipients with severe disabilities and ongoing outreach efforts by Silver Generation Ambassadors to inform seniors about long-term care schemes.

Yip Hon Weng asked about the average waiting time for late-stage cancer patients to start chemotherapy in public hospitals, whether there are cases of treatment being denied or delayed due to resource constraints, and how such situations are handled. Ong Ye Kung referred to a previous written reply regarding cancer treatment waiting times, stating that the Ministry of Health does not track specific waiting times as they are not considered meaningful indicators. He also mentioned that there are no known cases of late-stage cancer patients being denied or significantly delayed in chemotherapy due to resource issues, emphasizing that healthcare providers work to optimize treatment plans and ensure timely care.

David Hoe asked whether the Ministry of Health would enhance public education on end-of-life conversations and post-death matters, considering the ageing population. Ong Ye Kung reported that multiple agencies initiated a legacy planning campaign in 2023 that includes roadshows and workshops promoting advance care planning and other legacy tools. He highlighted the launch of myACP, a digital tool for documenting long-term care preferences, and mentioned the My Legacy@LifeSG portal as a resource for information on end-of-life planning and related matters. Agencies continue to collaborate on educating the public about the steps to take after the death of loved ones.

David Hoe raised concerns about the visit cap for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) potentially making follow-up care at Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) cheaper than at GP clinics, even for stable chronic and mental health cases, and asked if the Ministry has reviewed this and considered subsidy parity. Ong Ye Kung clarified that SOCs are intended for patients needing specialized treatment, while stable patients should be referred back to GPs for management. He explained that GP subsidies under CHAS have a capped amount and are designed for common chronic conditions, whereas SOC subsidies are percentage-based with no caps, which leads to cost disparities between the two types of outpatient care.