Health

Dr. Choo Pei Ling asked for details on public funding for healthcare research over the past five years, specifically regarding funding amounts for chronic diseases and tracking across other health areas. Ong Ye Kung responded that $2.4 billion has been committed to healthcare research during this period. Approximately 50% of this funding focuses on cancer and chronic diseases, with the remainder supporting areas like research talent development and artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Hamid Razak asked about the evolution and user demographics of Mindline.sg since 2022 and how its effectiveness in linking users to care is assessed. Ong Ye Kung reported an 82% increase in unique monthly visitors to Mindline.sg, with users spending more time on the site and exploring more pages. Since its launch, over 206,000 self-assessments and 795,000 mental health exercises have been completed. User anonymity limits demographic tracking, but periodic surveys gauge effectiveness, with over 80% of users finding the AI chatbot, Wysa, helpful, and high satisfaction reported by individuals with psychiatric conditions.

Edward Chia Bing Hui raised concerns about the impact of rising temperatures due to climate change on non-air-conditioned Class B2 and C wards in public hospitals and asked if air-conditioning installation would be considered. Ong Ye Kung responded that public hospitals currently use hybrid cooling, portable air coolers, fans, and air purifiers to maintain comfort during heat waves or haze. The Ministry of Health will assess the effectiveness of existing cooling measures while balancing patient welfare, affordability, and infection control.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the Ministry of Health about the assessment of financial resilience among home hospice service providers and plans for future cost increases. Ong Ye Kung stated that the Ministry supports palliative care and regularly reviews operating costs to adjust funding rates, with increases already implemented this year. The Ministry also focuses on training palliative care workers, adopting technology for efficiency, and improving discharge protocols for patients. Home hospice care capacity has risen from 2,400 to 3,000 in two years, with a target of 3,600 by the end of the year, and overall government funding for the sector is expected to continue increasing.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan raised questions regarding the Ministry of Education's review process for school counsellor allocation, including the timeline, indicators for expansion, and ensuring equitable access across diverse schools. She also inquired about the evaluation of the effectiveness of current mental health support systems, including trained counsellors and peer networks, and measures to improve help-seeking behavior among students. Desmond Lee stated that these questions were addressed by a written reply on September 23, 2025, and referred members to that response for further details.

Yip Hon Weng asked if public nursing homes in Singapore offer in-house dialysis facilities and if the Ministry of Health would consider adding these to more homes for better accessibility. Ong Ye Kung explained that in-house dialysis is not a standard requirement for nursing homes due to the low demand among clients. Instead, it is more efficient for those needing dialysis to use community dialysis centres, although some nursing homes are near these facilities when demand exists.

Dr. Choo Pei Ling asked about the inclusion of more initiatives for infants and toddlers in the Grow Well SG program, support for first-time working parents, and qualitative indicators assessing the program's long-term impact on child development. Ong Ye Kung emphasized the importance of parents in fostering healthy habits from birth and highlighted the program's focus on education for parents, including resources like the Childhood Health Behaviours checklist and various support platforms. He acknowledged the challenges posed by digital technology on children's development and stated that the program will be further enhanced to support parents in this area. Impact assessments of Grow Well SG will include indicators related to children's lifestyle habits and parental awareness through surveys.

Elysa Chen raised concerns about the MediSave withdrawal limit process and the criteria for exceeding it due to urgent medical needs, highlighting that some residents find the current $300 limit insufficient. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, explained that appeals for exceeding limits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual circumstances and available financial aid options like MediFund. She emphasized that patients are prioritized for treatment regardless of financial circumstances and encouraged seeking assistance from medical social workers within healthcare institutions. Further discussions included the potential for greater flexibility in MediSave usage for seniors and ongoing periodic reviews of MediSave policies to better accommodate patients' needs.

Ng Shi Xuan asked whether children under 18 could access low-intensity mental health services without parental consent, while still requiring consent for higher-risk interventions. Dr. Koh Poh Koon emphasized the importance of parental involvement in mental health recovery but acknowledged that requiring parental consent might deter young people from seeking help. The Ministry of Health is studying the issue with stakeholders and aims to provide guidelines by early next year to facilitate better access to mental health services for minors. The guidelines will aim to balance parental involvement with the need for minors to seek help without the deterrent of requiring consent.

Hamid Razak questioned the Minister for National Development about support for severe hoarding cases on the Government's watchlist and potential improvements to referral pathways for healthcare interventions. Chee Hong Tat responded that the New Environment Action Team (NEAT) was established to enhance cross-agency efforts, involving collaboration between several ministries and organizations to better identify at-risk individuals. NEAT allows for earlier interventions before situations escalate and includes referrals to mental health assessments and psychosocial support. Community and volunteer groups also assist by helping to declutter hoarded units and providing support to affected families.

Ng Shi Xuan queried the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the annual number of food poisoning cases linked to home-based food businesses over the past five years and the actions taken in such cases. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the Singapore Food Agency investigated an average of one suspected food poisoning case per year related to these businesses, but no causative link was found between the food sold and the incidents.

Cai Yinzhou asked about the demographics and mental health issues of clients served by the Community Intervention Team (COMIT). Ong Ye Kung reported that in FY2024, COMIT supported over 16,000 clients, with men making up about 35% of them. The age breakdown for males included 2% under 20, 30% between 20 and 34, 41% between 35 and 60, and 27% over 60. Common issues among these males included symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders. Strategies to improve help-seeking behavior include various access points for mental health services, public education campaigns to combat stigma, and resources like the national mindline and a digital self-help portal.

Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns about the impact of rising healthcare and living costs on retirement adequacy and sought policy refinements for CPF withdrawals and the Silver Support Scheme. Tan See Leng acknowledged the government's recognition of these concerns and highlighted efforts to strengthen the CPF system to ensure basic needs are met in old age. He emphasized the balance needed between withdrawal flexibility and ensuring sufficient retirement income, detailing existing support measures like the Majulah Package, enhanced Silver Support, and various schemes aimed at improving retirement adequacy for seniors. The government also provides additional support to address broader cost-of-living issues through specific assistance packages.