Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

16 Feb 2024

Treatment of Offences by Vape Users who Have Participated in I Quit Programme

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether vape users participating in the I Quit programme receive immunity from prosecution, how many have benefited, and what happens if they are caught vaping again after joining.
The Senior Minister of State for Health confirmed that programme participants are not immune from criminal prosecution for illegal possession or use of vaping products, and that 112,000 people have joined the programme since May 2014, though it does not track whether they are smokers or vapers.
Assoc Prof Lim expressed concern that the lack of immunity or severe penalties might deter people from joining the programme, and asked about publicity efforts and potential penalties for those caught vaping after participating.
The Health Minister’s representative clarified that participation in the programme does not affect prosecution likelihood or penalties, and acknowledged the suggestion for changes while stating the current policy remains unchanged.

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16 Feb 2024

Data on Non-emergency and Non-critical Admissions to Public Hospitals and Hospitalisation Insurance Claims Made

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry of Health for annual data over the past decade on non-emergency and non-critical admissions to public hospitals, MediSave/MediShield Life claims, patients who overstayed, and whether cash incentives would be offered to discourage unnecessary hospitalisations.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that such medically necessary admissions account for a stable 20% of public hospital admissions, and overstaying is addressed through Transitional Care Facilities and home care services, while cautioning that incentives for non-claims could discourage necessary care.
Assoc Prof Lim followed up, asking about plans to ramp up Transitional Care Facilities and whether incentives might be considered to reduce excessive hospitalisations.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary reiterated concerns about potentially harmful incentives but confirmed that expanding Transitional Care Facilities and home care services is part of a broader shift toward preventive and community-based care under Healthier SG.

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7 Feb 2024

Trends for Women Suffering from Arthralgia

Gerald Giam Yean Song inquired about the prevalence of arthralgia in women, its changes from 2013 to 2023, and the Ministry's efforts on awareness and early detection, particularly linked to menopause.
Ong Ye Kung stated the Ministry does not track the number of women with joint pain, as arthralgia is a symptom of various conditions including menopause, infections, and injuries.
He noted that hospitals like KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and National University Hospital have conducted media outreach to raise awareness of menopause and its symptoms, including arthralgia.
The Ministry plans to rely on future studies, such as an upcoming clinical study by the Integrated Women's Health Programme, to improve care models for menopausal women and explore treatments like curated exercises and estrogen therapy.
The response emphasized a data-driven approach to develop better programmes for menopausal women's health, while acknowledging current awareness efforts through existing medical institutions.

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7 Feb 2024

Data on Repeated Vaping Offenders in Schools and IHLs and Initiatives to Curb Addiction

The Ministry of Health does not have specific data on repeat vaping offenders from schools and Institutes of Higher Learning for the past five years, but Health Sciences Authority data shows 813 repeat offenders under 18 from 2019 to 2023, making up 25% of underage offenders.
The Health Promotion Board collaborates with the Ministry of Education, schools, and higher learning institutions on preventive education and nicotine cessation support, including QuitLine, tele-counselling, and onsite counselling through Student Health Advisors.
In 2023, about 2,350 youths received smoking and vaping cessation counselling, with 38% reporting reduced or quit usage after one month, indicating some effectiveness of the programmes.

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7 Feb 2024

Organisations with Programmes and Benefits for Female Workers with Menopausal-related Health Issues

The Ministry of Health does not have specific data on how many organisations in Singapore offer programmes or benefits for female workers with menopause-related health issues.
Support for women experiencing menopause is available through public educational resources on platforms like HealthHub and healthcare institution websites.
Interest groups such as “Dynamic Daisies” under KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital promote awareness and support for women undergoing menopause.
Women are encouraged to consult their regular family doctor or gynaecologist to manage menopause-related health issues.

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7 Feb 2024

Statistics of Menopausal Hormonal Treatment Received by Singaporean Females

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Ministry of Health for statistics on Singaporean women receiving menopausal hormonal treatment in public hospitals, including numbers and subsidised treatment proportions from 2013–2017 and 2018–2023.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry does not track the specific number of female Singapore Citizens receiving this treatment.
He stated that all Singaporeans referred to public Specialist Outpatient Clinics and assessed as needing menopausal hormonal treatment are eligible for subsidies.

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7 Feb 2024

Process for Evaluating and Altering National Servicemen's PES Status Due to Psychological Difficulties

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the Central Manpower Base’s process for evaluating National Servicemen’s PES status changes due to psychological difficulties, the average time for this evaluation, and the time between a PES status change and reassignment to a new vocation.
Ng Eng Hen explained that PES status for servicemen with psychological conditions is determined by healthcare professionals based on mental health concerns, treatment plans, and suitability for their vocation, with safety as a key consideration.
The PES review process averages about six weeks, though complex cases take longer; if a PES change requires reassignment, the serviceman typically moves to a new vocation within two weeks.

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7 Feb 2024

Advancing Mental Health

The government announced a multi-pronged national strategy, including expanding mental health services in polyclinics and GP clinics, increasing the number of psychiatrists and psychologists, and establishing a national mental health hotline by 2025.
Members highlighted the need for targeted support for specific groups, such as youths, caregivers, and the elderly, emphasizing community-based initiatives and the importance of addressing stigma to encourage help-seeking.
The debate called for improved affordability and accessibility of mental health care, including better insurance coverage, and stressed the role of workplaces and schools in building mental resilience through employee assistance programs and peer support networks.

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7 Feb 2024

Success Rates for Assisted Reproductive Technology Treatments at Public Hospitals

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that public assisted reproductive technology (ART) centres have higher success rates than private centres, with the difference within 10%, making them comparable.
Louis Ng asked if the Ministry is tracking an increasing trend in people using private ART centres and whether subsidies for private clinics are being considered, noting it is a new year.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that data on the trend of patients using private centres is not available and that extending subsidies to private ART centres is still under study with no timeline provided.

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7 Feb 2024

Enrolment at Polyclinics for Healthier SG

The Ministry of Health stated that each polyclinic has an average Healthier SG enrolment capacity of about 30,000, with 19 of the 25 polyclinics still having spare capacity while six are reserving slots for regular chronic patients.
Residents are encouraged to enroll with private GP clinics under Healthier SG, which currently have capacity to enrol over 700,000 residents, and 65% of total enrolments have been through GP clinics.
The Ministry clarified that while polyclinics aim to serve regular patients with chronic diseases, it is not absolute that every regular patient can enrol at their usual polyclinic, as it depends on the nature and duration of their regular visits and whether their condition falls under the Healthier SG programme.

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7 Feb 2024

Public Education on Proper Use of Hospital A&E Departments and Respective Fees Charged, and Promotion of Remote Care

The Ministry of Health is educating the public on the proper use of accident and emergency (A&E) departments, promoting health literacy, and raising awareness of fees and subsidies such as GPFirst, which is now available at all 1,000 Healthier SG GP clinics.
Initiatives to reduce A&E overcrowding include the use of telemedicine, a helpline for treatment advice, and the establishment of urgent care centres, such as those in Admiralty and at NUH’s children’s clinic, which handled thousands of cases in 2022.
The Ministry is piloting urgent care centres to ease A&E loads, with specific services like blood tests and minor treatments, while health literacy programmes are aimed at the general public rather than targeted solely at high-utilisation groups.

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6 Feb 2024

Possibility of Using CPF MediSave for Migrant Domestic Workers' Medical or Hospitalisation Expenses

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether employers can use their CPF MediSave to pay for their foreign domestic helpers’ medical or hospitalisation expenses if they cannot afford them, and what measures exist to raise awareness among potential employers about comprehensive medical insurance for their helpers.
Tan See Leng stated that CPF MediSave is meant for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents’ healthcare needs and cannot be used for Migrant Domestic Workers’ expenses.
Employers of MDWs must purchase medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000, which covers about 99% of hospital bills for MDWs, and they can buy more comprehensive coverage if needed.
The Ministry of Manpower informs prospective employers about insurance requirements during work permit applications and the mandatory Employer’s Orientation Programme, and reminds current employers through media, the website, employment agencies, and direct mailers.

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6 Feb 2024

Considerations for Installation of Alert Buttons for Vulnerable Seniors and Estimated Out-of-pocket Costs

Minister Desmond Lee confirmed that about 10,000 seniors in public rental housing have wireless Alert Alarm Systems installed, with plans to expand this to all seniors aged 60 and above in public rental housing under Age Well SG, benefiting an additional 26,800 seniors.
The wireless Alert Alarm System is not currently provided to seniors living in sold HDB flats, as its setup involves both hardware installation and ensuring adequate resources for 24/7 response services.
The Ministry of National Development and HDB will continue to review the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme, incorporating feedback from seniors and healthcare stakeholders, to determine if wireless alert systems can be included and to assess potential out-of-pocket costs.

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6 Feb 2024

Withdrawals Made by Singaporeans and Permanent Residents Under MediSave Care

In 2022 and 2023, close to 4,700 Singaporeans and permanent residents made MediSave Care withdrawals from their own accounts, their spouse’s accounts, or a combination of both.
Approximately 120 of these withdrawals were made solely from a spouse’s account.
The figures provided by the Minister for Health cover withdrawals over the last two years.
The data reflects both individual and spousal usage of MediSave Care under the program.

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6 Feb 2024

Ensuring Good Distribution of GP Clinics Offering 24-hour and After-office Hours Services

Patrick Tay asked the Ministry of Health to ensure a good distribution of GP clinics offering 24-hour and after-office hours services across constituencies to provide affordable and accessible care and reduce hospital load.
Ong Ye Kung noted there are over 1,300 CHAS GP clinics in Singapore, with about 500 operating after-office hours and 20 providing 24-hour services, though extended hours are a business decision by private clinics and not a Ministry planning parameter.
Residents can use the CHAS clinic locator at https://www.chas.sg/clinic-locator to find clinics with their opening hours nearby.

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6 Feb 2024

Counselling for Couples undergoing Assisted Reproduction Technology Treatment at Public Hospitals

Counselling for couples undergoing assisted reproduction technology at public hospitals covers key procedural information, psychosocial support, and is tailored to each couple’s needs.
The counselling topics include managing stress, anxiety, and expectations related to the treatment.
Couples are referred for counselling upon request or if practitioners assess the need, though the mean number of sessions is not tracked by the Ministry of Health.

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6 Feb 2024

Publicity Efforts to Encourage Uptake of Routine Vaccinations for Adults

Ms He Ting Ru asked about the effectiveness of publicity efforts to boost adult routine vaccinations, especially for seasonal flu, and whether further subsidies or free vaccinations would be considered for a wider group.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, highlighted that the Ministry of Health has conducted public education campaigns, targeted SMS messages, and enhanced subsidies, with vaccinations under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule now free for Healthier SG enrollees.
Recent data showed a significant uptake increase, with over 277,000 flu vaccinations administered to seniors aged 65 and above from January to November 2023, marking 150% and 50% rises compared to the previous two years.
The Ministry will continue monitoring uptake rates and review vaccination policies as needed.

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6 Feb 2024

Advancing Mental Health

Parliament debated the rising prevalence of mental health issues in Singapore, citing studies showing increased costs, higher suicide rates, and a significant treatment gap due to long wait times, high costs, and persistent stigma, with a call for urgent, whole-of-society action to support the national strategy.
Speakers emphasized the need to improve accessibility and affordability of mental healthcare, including expanding MediShield coverage, encouraging private insurance innovation, and addressing the unique challenges faced by seniors, youth, caregivers, and persons with disabilities through targeted community and institutional support.
There were strong recommendations to enhance mental health literacy in schools and workplaces, destigmatize help-seeking through public education, and better support frontline professionals and caregivers who are themselves vulnerable to burnout and stress.
Several members advocated for systemic changes such as regulating mental health professions, introducing a "right to disconnect," and establishing a National Well-being Office to integrate mental health considerations across all government policies.
The debate highlighted personal experiences and community initiatives, underscoring the importance of empathy, authentic care, and collective effort in building a mentally resilient and supportive Singaporean society.

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6 Feb 2024

Advancing Mental Health

Mental health should be treated as a critical health, social, and economic issue requiring a whole-of-Singapore effort, with a focus on building a proactive national ecosystem that promotes well-being and reduces stigma through community-based strategies, enhanced mental health literacy, and accessible screening and support services.
Key concerns raised include long waiting times for psychiatric care, insurance discrimination against those with mental health conditions, and the need for better support in schools, workplaces, and for vulnerable groups like seniors and freelancers, with calls for regulatory frameworks and subsidies to improve access and fairness.
The debate emphasized strengthening workplace mental health through measures like a "right to disconnect," employee assistance programs, and tripartite guidelines, while also highlighting the importance of caregiver support, digital well-being, and integrating mental health into broader initiatives like Healthier SG.

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6 Feb 2024

Allegations Surrounding Suicide of Sgt Uvaraja s/o Gopal

The Minister stated that investigations into Sgt Uvaraja’s allegations found some were true and had been acted upon earlier, while others were untrue, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers confirming no further action was needed.
The Minister outlined the extensive support provided to Sgt Uvaraja, including substantial medical and no-pay leave, psychological assistance, and coaching, while also noting the personal and disciplinary issues he faced prior to his death.
The Minister emphasized the framework for handling workplace harassment and mental health support within the Home Team, citing training, reporting channels, and available services, and stressed that the vast majority of officers maintain high standards.

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