Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

6 Nov 2023

Involving Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners in Healthier SG

Ms Poh Li San inquired about the Ministry of Health's engagement with Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners to include them in the Healthier SG initiative.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that TCM's holistic nature is valued for preventive health and discussions are ongoing with the TCM Practitioners Board and community.
The Ministry is exploring ways to qualify TCM clinics or practitioners for Healthier SG to deliver lifestyle or social prescriptions, pending stronger self-regulation.
Details on the implementation will be announced once finalized by the Ministry of Health.

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6 Nov 2023

Steps Taken when IMH Patient Fails to Attend Appointments Repeatedly

When patients miss appointments, IMH follows up with phone calls and checks on them, with higher-risk patients assigned case managers for close monitoring.
IMH staff may conduct home visits if needed to ensure patients receive care.
Patients legally required to undergo treatment at IMH can be mandatorily admitted if they default on appointments and fail to adhere to outpatient treatment plans.

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6 Nov 2023

Likely Surge in Dengue Cases in Coming Months and Sufficiency of Hospital Bed Capacity for Severe Cases

The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment confirmed that a surge in dengue cases is likely in the coming months due to warmer and wetter weather conditions from the El Niño phenomenon.
The National Environment Agency and Ministry of Health collaborate through the Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force to monitor and manage the dengue situation.
The Ministry of Health ensures that hospitals have sufficient bed capacity to handle severe dengue cases requiring hospitalization.
The public and stakeholders are urged to take immediate action to remove mosquito breeding habitats and avoid mosquito bites.
Most dengue cases are managed by general practitioners and polyclinics, while severe cases are directed to hospitals for timely care.

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6 Nov 2023

Elderly Patients Affected by Delirium

Joan Pereira raised concerns about elderly patients affected by delirium, asking about its seriousness, annual numbers broken down by severity and duration, treatment options, and whether its progression can be slowed or cured.
Ong Ye Kung explained that delirium is an acute, fluctuating brain function change distinct from chronic dementia, often caused by medical conditions, infections, surgery, or medications.
The Ministry of Health does not track specific delirium numbers, but studies show it affects 10-30% of elderly patients admitted for acute medical issues.
Management focuses on treating the underlying cause and addressing aggravating factors like pain, dehydration, or certain medications, with recovery expected once the cause is resolved.
The response emphasized that delirium generally improves and can be fully recovered from with proper treatment of the root cause.

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6 Nov 2023

Helping Students with Suicide Ideations and Attempts

Schools have established processes where teachers are trained to identify distressed students, set aside dedicated time for regular well-being checks, and use peer support systems to highlight students in need for referral to school counsellors.
School counsellors conduct suicide risk assessments, involve parents and other supports, guide students in developing coping strategies, and urgently refer high-risk cases to REACH teams or hospital emergency services for intervention.
Schools continuously monitor students, collaborate with parents and caregivers to track mental health, assess risks, and adjust support, working with healthcare institutions to ensure safety and access to further mental health resources.

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6 Nov 2023

Percentage of Population Having Taken Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

About 80% of Singapore’s population has received at least three COVID-19 vaccine doses, with roughly half of those aged 60 and above having taken an additional dose beyond the minimum protection.
The Minister noted that vaccine protection wanes over time and, as COVID-19 becomes endemic, it is especially important for seniors and medically vulnerable individuals to receive a booster around once a year.
The government is continuing to study the disease and vaccination recommendations before deciding whether to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into a long-term annual regimen similar to the influenza vaccine.

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6 Nov 2023

Study on Sodium Taxes in Countries with Such Measures and Potential Recommendations for Singapore

The Ministry of Health has studied international sodium tax measures but does not plan to implement them, instead focusing on a multi-pronged approach tailored to Singapore’s context, where sodium mainly comes from sauces and eating out.
HPB is working with manufacturers and food operators to promote lower-sodium ingredients through grants and engagement, with some wholesale prices already comparable to regular products and growing market uptake.
Public education campaigns will emphasize that reducing salt can enhance natural flavors and aim to shift consumer perceptions, while future phases may consider mandatory labelling for sodium content.
The government is engaging hawkers, restaurants, and industry associations to encourage the use of healthier ingredients and ensure that efforts to reduce sodium do not significantly increase business costs or food prices.

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4 Oct 2023

Deployment of Healthier SG Ambassadors

Healthier SG ambassadors are currently deployed across 136 locations nationwide, including community clubs, polyclinics, vaccination centers, and roadshows, to assist elderly residents with enrollment and queries.
The ambassadors primarily help seniors who are less tech-savvy enroll via their preferred clinic, address questions about Healthier SG, and guide them to local social activities.
There are over 500 ambassadors deployed, with plans to redeploy them to focus on community outreach, polyclinics, and community clubs as enrollment progresses and roadshows conclude.
The redeployment strategy aims to include constituency-level health and sports events to further drive enrollment and community engagement.

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4 Oct 2023

Average Wait Time for Medication to be Dispensed to Newly Admitted Patients at Public Hospitals

The Ministry of Health does not track the average wait time for medication dispensing to newly admitted patients in public hospitals, as patients are triaged and managed based on the urgency of their conditions.
Medications are dispensed and administered expeditiously after doctors review patients, with first assessments focusing on diagnoses, medical history, allergies, and drug interactions.
Senior nurses are not empowered to provide over-the-counter painkillers to newly admitted patients; only Advanced Practice Nurses certified as collaborative prescribers can prescribe medications in collaboration with doctors.

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4 Oct 2023

Plans to Scale Down Free COVID-19 Vaccinations under National Vaccination Programme

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim inquired about plans to scale down free COVID-19 vaccinations and repurpose underutilised centres under DORSCON Green.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasized that COVID-19 remains a serious disease and vaccinations are crucial for resilience, especially for vulnerable groups.
Ong Ye Kung noted that falling vaccine demand necessitates adapting vaccination operations while retaining scalability for future needs.
The minister confirmed that free vaccinations under the National Vaccination Programme will continue, with operational adjustments based on demand.
Repurposing underutilised vaccination centres is being considered to align with current public health needs.

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4 Oct 2023

Basis of Means-testing Assessment for Medical Subsidies Provided to Elderly Persons Living with Their Families

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether means-testing for medical subsidies for elderly persons living with families should be based on their individual assets, savings, or income rather than household income, and consider their duration of co-residence and household expenses.
Ong Ye Kung explained that subsidies are currently assessed using per capita household income to reflect the household’s overall financial capacity, which may place elderly persons in higher subsidy tiers but also allows their family members to receive higher subsidies for supporting them.
Ong Ye Kung noted that while per capita household income may not fully capture individual circumstances, those facing difficulties can apply for discretionary financial assistance like MediFund, which considers a broader set of factors.

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4 Oct 2023

Steps to Ensure Proper Informed Consent Taken from Parents of Children Undergoing Medical Procedures

The Singapore Medical Council’s 2016 Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines outline the components of informed consent for minors, requiring parents to be adequately informed of risks and benefits.
These guidelines align with international best practices and mandate that doctors act in the child’s best interest if a parent objects to a medically necessary procedure.
Under the Healthcare Services Act 2020, licensed healthcare providers must establish systems to obtain informed consent consistent with prevailing laws and the ethical guidelines.

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4 Oct 2023

Size, Annual Income and Expenditure of Rare Disease Fund

The Rare Disease Fund (RDF) had a size of $143 million as of end-FY2022, with projected FY2023 investment income of $4.8 million and expenditure of $2.4 million for existing beneficiaries.
The RDF primarily uses its investment income to support patients on lifelong, high-cost treatments, but it has recently expanded to allow drawdown of the principal sum for one-off, high-cost Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Products (CTGTPs) on a case-by-case basis.
Medications like Zolgensma and risdiplam for spinal muscular atrophy are not listed in the RDF because new treatments are only approved if projected investment income is adequate to support all known patients requiring that treatment.

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4 Oct 2023

Operation Status of Women’s Clinic in Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic

Ms He Ting Ru inquired about the current operation status of the women’s clinic in the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic, including reasons for its continued suspension and a potential reopening timeline.
The clinic was suspended in February 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to create isolation facilities, and attrition among female healthcare workers has made it difficult to maintain a dedicated women’s clinic.
Full services remain available with a women-only care team upon request, and the department is exploring the feasibility of resuming the women’s clinic in the future.

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4 Oct 2023

Enrolment Rates to Healthier SG Programme Based on Demographic Factors, such as Gender and Race

Minister Ong Ye Kung reported that 15% of the eligible population has enrolled in Healthier SG since its July launch, with no significant gender differences.
Enrolment rates vary by ethnicity, with Chinese at 16% (above the national average), while Malays and Indians are at 11%.
The Ministry of Health is collaborating with community groups like the People’s Association, SINDA, and M3 to promote enrolment.

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4 Oct 2023

Review of Framework for Training of Doctors to Administer Aesthetic Procedures

Joan Pereira asked how the Ministry ensures doctors are adequately trained for safe aesthetic procedures and whether the qualification framework will be reviewed.
The Ministry and Singapore Medical Council regulate aesthetic practices through updated guidelines that specify permitted procedures and required competencies, with oversight from a dedicated committee.
Doctors must follow the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, and compliance is monitored during audits of licensed healthcare institutions.
The Ministry and SMC periodically review the aesthetic guidelines, with the next review scheduled for completion in 2024.

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4 Oct 2023

Average Duration Between Identification of Mosquito Breeding Site and Issuance of Fine

The National Environment Agency takes an average of five months to issue a fine after detecting a mosquito breeding site, with longer times during dengue outbreaks due to increased caseload; the Ministry is reviewing the process to reduce delays.
From 2020 to date, about 22,400 fines were issued, with only four cases (0.02%) wrongly sent due to administrative errors, which were rectified immediately upon appeal.
First-time offenders are not exempt from fines, as all offenders are held accountable to prevent dengue, and notification slips are placed under doors if residents are not home, with contact details for follow-up queries or appeals.

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4 Oct 2023

Recourse for Patients Provided with Outdated Information on Eligibility for On-panel Benefits for Hospitalisation Expense Claims under Integrated Shield Plan

The Ministry of Health does not track data on disputes about outdated eligibility information for on-panel benefits under Integrated Shield Plans but notes few such cases have occurred; patients are advised to first resolve issues with medical providers, then escalate to the Clinical Claims Resolution Process or mediation via MOH Holdings’ Healthcare Mediation Unit.
Dr Tan Wu Meng highlighted a case where a private hospital provided outdated panel information, leading to financial hardship for a patient, and questioned the lack of a “no wrong door” policy and available recourse for such situations.
In response, MOH reiterated that consumers can seek help from the Healthcare Mediation Unit, the Consumers Association of Singapore, or the Small Claims Tribunals if unresolved, while stressing the need for hospitals, doctors, and insurers to ensure accurate and updated information to prevent such misunderstandings.

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3 Oct 2023

Mental Health Support Provided to Retired Team Singapore and eSports Athletes

Melvin Yong asked what mental health support is provided to retired Team Singapore athletes and whether this support extends to retired esports athletes.
Edwin Tong referred to previous parliamentary responses on mental health support for national athletes, including esports athletes, during their active careers.
The minister highlighted that athletes develop life skills and mental resilience through support during their careers, which can help them after retirement.
He directed the member to specific official reports for more details and suggested filing a separate question for further queries.

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3 Oct 2023

Number of Medical Doctors and Specialists Leaving Public Medical Institutions for Private Practice and Measures to Retain Them

The Ministry of Health reported that attrition rates for doctors in public healthcare have been stable at 3% to 5% over the last three years, with a net inflow of doctors into the system and lower attrition among specialists.
Exit interviews indicate the top reasons for doctors leaving public practice are personal factors, better career prospects, and returning to their home countries.
Measures to retain doctors include ensuring competitive remuneration, supporting well-being, providing good career prospects and development, and highlighting the meaningful contribution to society.
No specific mention was made of a study on the effectiveness of these retention measures.

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