Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

3 Oct 2023

Public Health Challenge of Loneliness among Older Adults

The Ministry of Health recognizes social connectedness as a major social determinant of health and is stepping up efforts to combat social isolation among older adults, with the Silver Generation Office prioritizing outreach to seniors living alone.
A multi-pronged approach involves community partners like Active Ageing Centres offering services, befriending programs, and diverse active ageing activities to help seniors forge connections and avoid isolation.
Seniors can also engage with Community Clubs, Residents’ Committees, People’s Association groups, and SportSG’s initiatives to build community bonds, while SG Cares Volunteer Centres provide volunteering opportunities to strengthen social support networks.

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3 Oct 2023

Youths Seeking Counselling and Mental Health Support after Succumbing to Scams

The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that while data shows about 10,000 youths aged 10 to 29 were scam victims in 2022, neither the police nor the Ministry tracks how many actively seek mental health support afterward, making the true scale of the problem unclear.
Support for scam victims includes the Singapore Police Force’s Victim Care Cadre programme, which offers psychological first aid and referrals to community or professional resources, while youths with mental health needs can access various outreach teams and school counsellors.
There is no direct mention of a formal collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs specifically for addressing the link between scams and mental health distress, though existing police and health systems provide indirect support.

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3 Oct 2023

Spot Cooling Non-air-conditioned B2 and C Class Wards in Public Hospitals

Leong Mun Wai asked whether patients in non-air-conditioned B2 and C class wards can request spot cooling, if there are temperature guidelines, and the estimated cost to fully air-condition such wards.
Ong Ye Kung explained that newer hospitals are designed for natural ventilation to support infection control and cost efficiency, with measures like building orientation and fans to ensure thermal comfort, while older hospitals implement spot cooling during renovations.
The Ministry of Health does not have specific cost estimates for full air-conditioning and will continue to balance affordability, infection control, and patient comfort in reviewing ward ventilation measures.

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3 Oct 2023

Number of Women who Suffer from Postnatal Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder

Member Melvin Yong asked the Ministry of Health about the annual percentage of women with postnatal PTSD over the past five years and how doctors and nurses in public hospitals are trained to recognize its signs.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that KKH and NUH each see only a handful of postnatal PTSD cases yearly, representing a very small percentage of total childbirths.
KKH and NUH train healthcare professionals to identify and manage mental health issues in prenatal and postnatal patients, with KKH providing trauma-focused interventions since 2020 and NUH routinely screening for mental health concerns.

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3 Oct 2023

National Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Impact on Disease Burden on Population

The Minister for Health reported that the age-standardised prevalence of chronic kidney disease was 7.3% in 2019–2020 and 11.4% in 2021–2022, based on the National Population Health Survey, with the rising burden attributed to risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity influenced by lifestyle choices.
The Ministry plans to reduce the disease burden through the Health Promotion Board’s programmes promoting physical activity and reduced sugar consumption, and by implementing Healthier SG to enhance preventive care, screening participation, and chronic condition management.
The Minister noted the importance of addressing lifestyle-related risk factors to curb CKD incidence and that Healthier SG will strengthen existing efforts in promoting healthier lifestyles and managing chronic conditions, including CKD.

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3 Oct 2023

Suicide and Attempted Suicide Cases Reported in Schools

Darryl David asked the Minister for Education about the number of suicide and attempted suicide cases reported in schools over the last five years and whether certain schools had higher rates.
Chan Chun Sing stated that suicide incidence rates for youths aged 10-19 fluctuated between 2018 and 2022, with rates lower than the national average.
Chan Chun Sing confirmed there are no indications that specific schools or institutions report higher suicide rates.

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3 Oct 2023

Issues Related to Mobile Inpatient Care at Home Programme Such As Use of Remote Monitoring Technology and Compliance with Treatment Regime

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked how the government will ensure patients in the Mobile Inpatient Care at Home programme have access to remote monitoring equipment, receive support for technological literacy, and have compliance with treatment plans monitored, as well as whether there are plans to expand the programme.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that the programme is implemented in all public hospitals for suitable General Medicine patients, who are provided with clinical monitoring equipment and training, with daily tele-consultations to ensure compliance and in-person visits when needed.
The government is exploring scaling up the programme to include other patient types such as palliative care, paediatric, and gynaecology patients.

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3 Oct 2023

Strengthening Accessibility to Mental Healthcare

Dr. Syed Harun Alhabsyi highlighted that while mental healthcare in Singapore has improved, significant barriers remain, such as long waiting times (up to 45 days for a psychiatrist) and a lack of alternatives when public resources are stretched, which hinders true accessibility.
The debate emphasized the need for better integration of mental healthcare across primary, community, and hospital settings, as well as greater cultural and social sensitivity to address stigma and ensure care is effective for diverse groups, including the Malay/Muslim community.
Concerns were raised about insurance coverage for mental health conditions, with calls for a review of private insurers' practices to ensure fair treatment and reduce barriers to seeking care.
The government outlined its ongoing efforts, including the Inter-Agency Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being and the upcoming National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which aim to promote prevention, early intervention, and cross-sector collaboration to improve mental health outcomes.
Workplace support and anti-discrimination measures were also discussed, with the Ministry of Manpower planning to enhance protections and opportunities for individuals with mental health conditions.

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3 Oct 2023

Inpatient Hospice Patients who have Sought ElderShield Claims

Between January 2022 and June 2023, about 20 inpatient hospice patients sought ElderShield claims, all of which were approved following severe disability assessments by MOH-accredited assessors, with a median processing time of 10 working days.
The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) proactively prioritizes claims from patients with limited life expectancy, and MOH is working with AIC to improve access to severe disability assessors for hospices, including linking them with available assessors and expanding the pool of house-call assessors.
MOH is addressing the challenge of assessments for terminally ill hospice patients, acknowledging the inapplicability of requiring two Resident Assessment Forms six months apart, and is exploring enhancements like tele-assessments to improve accessibility for less mobile patients.

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3 Oct 2023

Students Referred to Authorities for Vaping in Last Five Years

Joan Pereira asked how many students were referred to the Health Sciences Authority for vaping in the last five years, to which the Second Minister for Education replied that referrals increased from less than 50 before 2020 to about 800 in 2022, with ongoing inter-agency efforts to boost detection, enforcement, and education.
Pereira followed up by asking if more resources such as technology, teaching tools, or manpower would be allocated to help schools address youth vaping, with the Minister affirming that necessary resources will be provided to enhance outreach efforts.
The Minister detailed current preventive measures, including embedding anti-vaping messages in curricula like Physical Education, Science, and Character and Citizenship Education, as well as training teachers to mentor students and engage parents to combat the trend.

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19 Sep 2023

Junior Doctors' Access to Healthcare and Patient Database as They Start Their Posting at Public Hospitals

Around 90% of new junior doctors have their healthcare IT accounts ready on their first day, but account setup can take up to two weeks during peak periods with over 1,000 new juniors starting in January, April, and July.
Junior doctors without IT access are supported by clinical teams to ensure patient care continues smoothly while their accounts are being processed.
The national HealthTech agency, Synapxe, is collaborating with public healthcare institutions to automate and shorten the account creation timeline, with improvements expected to roll out starting next year.

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19 Sep 2023

Use of MediSave Account for Treatment at Public Hospital First Attended

The Member of Parliament inquired whether patients can use their MediSave accounts for treatment at the first public hospital attended, even if later transferred to another hospital for specialized care.
The Minister confirmed that MediSave can be used for expenses at any accredited hospital, including cases where a patient is subsequently transferred.
Such transfers are treated as a single medical episode, with MediSave and MediShield Life claim limits applied collectively across both hospitals.

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19 Sep 2023

MediSave Withdrawal Limits for In-vitro Fertility Treatments

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Health has reviewed the MediSave withdrawal limits for in-vitro fertility (IVF) treatments and whether it would consider increasing them.
Ong Ye Kung stated that current financing schemes are adequate, with government co-funding of up to 75% and MediSave withdrawal limits of $6,000 per cycle and $15,000 lifetime per patient.
He noted that after co-funding and MediSave use, eight in 10 eligible couples have no out-of-pocket expense and nine in 10 pay no more than $500.
The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor affordability and review financing schemes if needed.

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19 Sep 2023

Updated Vaccines for COVID-19 Variant EG.5

Ms. Joan Pereira asked if Singapore's vaccine strategy will include booster doses of updated vaccines for the COVID-19 variant EG.5, which the WHO designated a variant of interest.
Ong Ye Kung referred her to a previous reply given on 19 September 2023 regarding revisions to advisories on COVID-19 vaccinations and other measures.
The response did not provide new details on Singapore's specific plans for updated vaccine boosters against the EG.5 variant.

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19 Sep 2023

Use of MediSave for Treatment at Private Mental Healthcare Institutions

Yip Hon Weng asked about the number of private mental healthcare practitioners accepting MediSave and the sufficiency of current MediSave limits for annual treatment costs.
Ong Ye Kung stated that over 270 private clinics are accredited for MediSave claims under the Chronic Diseases Management Programme, with information available on the Agency for Integrated Care’s website.
He explained that patients can use up to $500 or $700 annually from MediSave for outpatient treatment of common mental health conditions, and most individuals do not exceed these limits.
The government will regularly review MediSave withdrawal limits to ensure they remain adequate for mental healthcare needs.

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19 Sep 2023

Insurance Coverage Discrimination against Persons with Pre-existing Conditions

Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired whether the Ministry of Health collaborates with insurers, including Integrated Shield Plan providers, to ensure that exclusion criteria for pre-existing conditions are medically and actuarially justified and non-discriminatory.
He also asked about appeal mechanisms for individuals who believe an insurer's decision to deny coverage is unreasonable.
Minister Ong Ye Kung directed the questioner to a prior reply given on 19 September 2023 regarding insurance coverage for mental health conditions, implying similar principles apply to pre-existing conditions.

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19 Sep 2023

Enforcement Actions against Mosquito Breeding

Melvin Yong asked for the number of mosquito breeding enforcement cases in 2023, the trend compared to the past three years, and whether more NEA officers would be deployed at dengue hotspots.
Grace Fu responded that NEA has taken about 5,200 enforcement actions in 2023, compared to approximately 14,700 in 2020, 11,300 in 2021, and 15,900 in 2022.
NEA has increased inspections and mitigation at dengue hotspots and dynamically deploys resources to close clusters quickly, but community action is also needed to prevent mosquito breeding.

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19 Sep 2023

Training and Other Measures to Address Workload, Stress Management and Mental Well-being Issues for Staff at Preschools and Childcare Centres

The debate was initiated by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, who asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about mandatory training or other measures by ECDA to address workload, stress management, and mental well-being for preschool and childcare staff.
The Minister’s response referred to a prior reply given on 18 September 2023, directing attention to the Official Report on investigations into alleged mistreatment at a preschool chain for relevant information.
The exchange highlighted a focus on staff well-being within early childhood settings, but specific details on new or existing measures were not elaborated in the provided excerpts.
The response indicated that the matter had been previously addressed in Parliament, suggesting ongoing government attention to staff welfare in preschools.
No new policy announcements or concrete measures were presented in this debate segment, as it primarily served as a follow-up reference to earlier discussions.

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19 Sep 2023

Ensuring Early Childhood Educators' Mental and Emotional Wellness are Taken Care Of

Darryl David inquired about the Early Childhood Development Agency's programmes and guidelines for managing early childhood educators' mental and emotional wellness.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that the query was addressed in a prior reply regarding investigations into alleged mistreatment at preschool centres.
The minister directed attention to the official report from 18 September 2023 for further details on the matter.

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19 Sep 2023

Expanding Definition of Disability to Include Those with Certifiable Mental Health Conditions

The MP asked when the definition of disability for access to programmes like Open Door will be expanded to include those with certifiable mental health conditions, to align with the workplace fairness legislation.
The Minister explained that both disability and mental health conditions are protected characteristics in the upcoming workplace fairness legislation due to being common forms of workplace discrimination.
The Minister noted that persons with disabilities and those with mental health conditions receive different types of employment support tailored to their distinct needs.
The Minister stated that support for mental health conditions focuses on recovery and coping, with MOH leading a comprehensive approach involving early detection, intervention, and expanded community services.
The Minister highlighted that employment assistance for mental health conditions is available through specific organizations like the Job Club under IMH, SAMH, and SACS, which provide job placement and training.

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