Health

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about the percentage and number of Diploma in Nursing graduates from 2019 to 2024 who do not register as nurses, considering those enlisting for National Service or furthering their studies. Ong Ye Kung responded that the Singapore Nursing Board does not track data on graduates from Institutes of Higher Learning who do not register as nurses. However, the 2022 Graduate Employment Survey indicated that around 90% of nursing graduates who were in full-time permanent employment within six months of graduation were practicing nursing.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about subsidized eye-related screenings under the Healthier SG programme, particularly for seniors and those with diabetes. Ong Ye Kung confirmed that subsidized visual acuity screenings are available for seniors through Project Silver Screen, with minimal fees based on cardholder status. For individuals with diabetes, subsidized diabetic retinal photography (DRP) is offered at polyclinics and participating GP clinics, also linked to the Healthier SG care protocol for chronic disease management.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Health Minister about the average age of youths supported by the Youth Community Outreach Team (CREST-Youth) and the Youth Integrated Team (YIT), the average duration of support, and the number of interactions mental healthcare workers have with youths and their caregivers. Ong Ye Kung responded with data on the services provided by CREST-Youth and YIT but noted that the Ministry of Health does not track the number of sessions these service providers have with caregivers.

Christopher de Souza asked about support measures for pharmacists and allied healthcare workers due to the industry's demanding nature. Ong Ye Kung reported a 20% increase in registered pharmacists and a 25% increase in allied healthcare professionals from 2019 to 2023. Efforts are being made to innovate and streamline processes, including the National Central Fill Pharmacy system that redesigns supply chain roles. The National One-Rehab Framework has been developed for better care delivery and rehabilitation outcomes. The Ministry will also focus on enhancing career attractiveness and opportunities for professional development in the healthcare sector.

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health about the upcoming Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media, specifically regarding its effectiveness in addressing youth mental health and plans to support young adults post-school. Ong Ye Kung stated that the Guide will be introduced in early 2025 to help individuals recognize the potential harms of technology and social media. He noted that the effectiveness of such preventive measures will take time to reflect in disease prevalence data. Outreach efforts will be required to engage various age groups, including those not in school.

Indranee Rajah moved to adjourn the Parliament, prompting a discussion by Assoc Prof Razwana Begum on the impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women, emphasizing the need for a gender-informed approach to address their unique challenges. She highlighted the psychological, physical, and economic consequences of these life stages, advocating for better awareness and support systems, including education in schools, and adjustments to workplace policies. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, acknowledged the importance of addressing menopause-related health issues through education for healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns, and enhancing women’s well-being while balancing caregiving responsibilities. Both speakers called for a societal approach to reduce stigma and ensure support for women experiencing menopause, while recognizing the necessity of research and policy adjustments to promote gender equality.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about mechanisms for foster carers to access health information about children in their care and addressing potential impediments from birth parents. Eric Chua explained that the Ministry collects health information from birth parents and can intervene if information is withheld, but foster parents do not have direct access to health records via HealthHub or Health Buddy due to birth parents' control. Razwana emphasized procedural delays in healthcare access for foster children, suggesting improved support from the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Health, and the possibility of a dedicated health liaison for foster situations. Chua acknowledged the challenges and reiterated the support provided to foster families, including medical fee exemption cards and regular contact with foster care workers.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Health about the possibility of allowing seniors to use MediSave for purchasing hearing aids, linking uncorrected hearing loss to dementia. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, stated that seniors can currently use the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) for subsidies, but noted that the income limit might exclude some seniors from assistance. Tan highlighted that many seniors not qualifying for SMF face significant out-of-pocket costs for hearing aids. Rahayu acknowledged the issue but emphasized the need to maintain MediSave balances for major health expenses and mentioned ongoing reviews of the support system for eligible seniors.

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim questioned the Minister for Health about measures yet to be rolled out under the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy, requesting a timetable for their introduction. Dr Janil Puthucheary responded that new initiatives include a National Mental Health Helpline and Textline service set for mid-2025, as well as a Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media due in the first half of 2025. He confirmed ongoing partnerships with tech companies to develop regulatory frameworks for social media and teletherapy platforms. The Ministry of Health is also exploring the use of telemedicine and teletherapy services for broader applications in mental health support.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health about schemes to encourage administrative and support healthcare workers to build careers in the public sector. The Minister of State for Health, Rahayu Mahzam, explained that the Ministry is actively working to retain staff by offering competitive salaries, career development, and safe working environments, and has introduced new roles like Care Support Associate and Patient Service Associate. Ng suggested extending the ANGEL programme, a financial retention scheme for nurses, to administrative staff, but Mahzam stated that different healthcare roles require tailored approaches and that the needs of all healthcare workers are considered in their retention strategies. The Ministry will continue to review salaries and seek various methods to attract and retain healthcare workers, ensuring they have career progression opportunities.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked if the Ministry of Health would provide guidance to insurance companies on premium increases for Integrated Shield Plans now that the moratorium has ended. Ong Ye Kung explained that the government had previously implemented a two-year moratorium due to significant changes in cancer drug policies. The Ministry regulates key aspects of insurance plans but allows insurance companies to set premiums based on market competition. MOH urges the public to make informed choices regarding health insurance and will continue to provide information on premiums and coverage. All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are still covered by MediShield Life for subsidized care in public hospitals.

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health about the correlation between rising per capita household income and increasing healthcare costs, as well as the frequency of PCHI reviews. Ong Ye Kung responded that the thresholds for means-tested healthcare subsidy schemes have been recently reviewed to reflect changes in household incomes and property values. The Ministry also adjusts subsidy levels in response to healthcare cost increases, citing enhancements to the implant subsidy framework and improvements to MediShield Life for better coverage of large healthcare bills.

Assoc Prof Jamus Lim raised concerns about the unavailability of certain generic medications, like Febuxostat, in Singapore despite their accessibility in neighboring regions and the focus on controlling healthcare costs. Ong Ye Kung explained that while healthcare institutions offer various generic medications, some are not brought into Singapore due to pharmaceutical companies' assessments of local demand and market potential. He noted that although Febuxostat's generic version is registered, it has not yet been introduced commercially. However, affordable alternatives such as Allopurinol and Probenecid are available in public hospitals and pharmacies.

Dr. Janil Puthucheary provided clarification regarding data on unique patients aged zero to 18 who experienced anaphylactic shock due to food. He acknowledged that he may have incorrectly referred to "admissions" in his initial response to Ms. He. This clarification is intended to ensure accurate understanding of the issue related to food allergies in children.

He Ting Ru raised questions about the tracking of food allergies in children, asking about the current prevalence rates, trends over the past decade, and studies being undertaken to identify causes. Dr. Janil Puthucheary reported that childhood food allergy prevalence in Singapore is low, between 1% and 3%, and that inter-agency efforts are underway to raise awareness among food handlers and educators about managing allergies. He acknowledged an increase in detected cases and mentioned ongoing studies to determine current prevalence and improve public education. The discussion highlighted the importance of proper guidance on allergen introduction and hygiene practices in child-rearing, emphasizing that serious allergy incidence appears stable.

Christopher de Souza questioned the Minister for Health on ways to support public hospitals in attracting and retaining pharmacy technicians, specifically regarding financial support for competitive salaries. Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam responded that the Ministry of Health will collaborate with public healthcare institutions to enhance career prospects for pharmacy technicians through the Public Sector Pharmacy Technicians Career Development Pathway. The starting salaries for pharmacy technicians will increase by 9% in 2023, supported by additional funding from the Ministry, and regular salary reviews will be conducted to maintain competitiveness.

• The Ministry of Manpower does not collect data on older employees without employer-provided medical insurance.
• Employers are not required to provide medical insurance but can contribute to employees' MediSave accounts for MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans.
• All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents have lifelong MediShield Life coverage regardless of employment status.

• The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that calorie display is not mandatory, with the focus instead on labeling sugar, sodium, and saturated fat due to their impact on population health.
• Larger F&B establishments are required to display Nutri-Grade labels on menus for beverages higher in sugar and saturated fat, and the voluntary Healthier Dining Programme has over 3,100 establishments participating.
• The government plans to introduce mandatory labeling for prepackaged products like sauces for sodium and saturated fat content and continues to encourage healthier ingredient choices.
• Authorities will monitor existing measures and remain open to further voluntary or mandatory steps that are practical to support healthier diets in Singapore.

• The Member of Parliament raised concerns about the high rates of severe mental health symptoms among youths and asked whether mental health support in schools and outpatient psychiatric services for youths could be strengthened.
• The Minister acknowledged the study's findings but noted that self-reported symptoms do not equate to clinical diagnoses, and outlined current efforts such as community mental health teams collaborating with schools and public hospitals offering specialist child and adolescent services.
• The Minister highlighted ongoing initiatives to upskill school counsellors and community partners, and mentioned existing community touchpoints providing mental health support, with plans to expand these services to more polyclinics and GP clinics by 2030.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health for the annual hiring targets for nurses, allied health professionals, and support care staff over the next five years to achieve a healthcare workforce of 82,000 by 2030.
• Ong Ye Kung responded that due to an aging population, demand for healthcare services and manpower will rise, and the Ministry of Health needs to recruit about 6,000 healthcare workers annually to meet the 82,000 workforce target by 2030.