Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

21 Apr 2023

Encouraging Hawkers to Adopt Healthier Cooking Methods and Practices

Dennis Tan asked the Ministry for Health to consider better ways to encourage all hawkers, including those not in the Healthier Dining Programme, to adopt healthier cooking methods and practices beyond current efforts.
Ong Ye Kung highlighted that 60% of stalls in hawker centres and coffee shops offered at least one healthier option by December 2022, such as lower-calorie meals or dishes using wholegrain staples, healthier oils, or lower-sodium seasonings.
The Health Promotion Board supports healthier cooking through the Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme, which provides access to ingredients like wholegrain rice, noodles, and low-sodium products, and boosts demand via events and rewards on the Healthy 365 app.

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21 Apr 2023

Career Options and Prospects for Trained Singapore Oral Health Therapists

Oral health therapists in Singapore have diverse career options in both private and public dental clinics, including general and specialist settings, as well as non-clinical roles in education and administration.
The Ministry of Health is expanding the clinical scope of oral health therapists to address an ageing population, with a new training roadmap this year to upskill them for care across different ages and settings.
The government plans to explore additional career tracks for oral health therapists, such as in research and administration, and has accredited a diploma for entry into dentistry studies at the National University of Singapore.

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21 Apr 2023

Update on Zero-tolerance Policy Against Abuse and Harassment of Healthcare Workers

The Ministry of Health is developing a standardised zero-tolerance policy against abuse and harassment of healthcare workers, to be formulated with public healthcare clusters in the second half of the year, with no plans to pass it into law.
The policy will include a common definition of abuse and harassment, an effective reporting and escalation protocol, supportive reporting practices, and clear, enforced consequences.
Healthcare workers are already protected under the Penal Code and the Protection from Harassment Act, and egregious cases will be reported to the police for investigation.
A national public education campaign will be launched to promote respect for healthcare workers and align public expectations of their roles.

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21 Apr 2023

Availability of AstraZeneca Vaccine in Singapore and Concerns of It Linked to Thrombosis

Yip Hon Weng asked if the AstraZeneca vaccine had caused thrombosis issues in Singapore and whether it remains available in private clinics and hospitals, following its withdrawal in Australia.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has not been authorised for use in Singapore.

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21 Apr 2023

Rate of Myopia among Primary School Children and Programmes to Address Uptrend

The prevalence of myopia among Primary 1 and Primary 4 students has remained stable at around 29% and 51% respectively over the last five years.
The Health Promotion Board will continue existing efforts like the National Myopia Prevention Programme to address the issue.
Preschoolers will continue to be required to have regular outdoor time as part of preventive measures.
Children at high risk of high myopia will be fast-tracked for specialist assessment and myopia control treatment.

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21 Apr 2023

New Variants and Resurgence of Infections from Recent Spike in COVID-19 Cases

The Minister for Health stated that the recent COVID-19 spike is part of expected endemic waves, with current case numbers and hospitalisations remaining low compared to past peaks.
New Omicron subvariants are circulating but show no evidence of increased severity, and the Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation closely.
The public is advised to wear masks if symptomatic, reduce social interactions, and vulnerable groups are urged to get booster doses one year after their last booster.

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21 Apr 2023

Effectiveness of "War Against Diabetes" Effort

Patrick Tay questioned the effectiveness of the "War on Diabetes" launched in 2016 in reducing the number of diabetics in Singapore.
Ong Ye Kung stated that without intervention, diabetes prevalence would rise due to longer life expectancy and an ageing population.
Data from the National Population Health Survey showed a slight drop in crude diabetes prevalence from 8.8% in 2017 to 8.5% in 2022.
After adjusting for population ageing, age-standardised prevalence fell more significantly from 7.8% in 2017 to 6.8% in 2022.
The Ministry of Health views this as progress in reversing a previously increasing trend and will continue monitoring and tackling diabetes.

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21 Apr 2023

Actions by Hospitals against Patients who Abuse or Harass Healthcare Workers

The Ministry of Health is working to develop a standardized zero-tolerance policy for abuse and harassment of healthcare workers, to be completed in the second half of 2023, which will include guidelines for institutions.
Current measures by hospitals include issuing warnings, de-escalating conflicts, and discharging patients only when clinically ready; premature discharge is not a standard practice, as care is delivered regardless of behavior in urgent cases.
The policy emphasizes that healthcare workers' well-being is protected while ensuring patients in need receive care, with security or police intervention sought for extreme cases, and the framework aims to provide a commonsensical, standardized approach for all public healthcare institutions.

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21 Apr 2023

Assessment of Practice where Insurers Offer Additional Coverage for Cancer Treatment through Riders

The Ministry of Health has introduced the Cancer Drug List to negotiate lower drug prices and has increased MediShield Life claim limits for cancer treatment, while noting that generous insurance riders can encourage non-cost-effective treatments and drive up costs.
The government is monitoring the impact of enhanced insurance riders on cancer drug prices and will consider further regulations with the Monetary Authority of Singapore if costs continue to escalate, while urging consumers to consider the long-term value of insurance products.
There are plans to improve price transparency for cancer drugs to help patients make informed decisions, but differential pricing by pharmaceutical companies across countries is a common practice that the government can only address through negotiation rather than legal action.

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20 Apr 2023

Debate on President's Address

Several MPs advocated for stronger mental health support, including training GPs as the first line of care, using technology for affordable therapy, and empowering community first responders, with a pilot program in Ang Mo Kio.
Inclusivity and anti-discrimination measures were highlighted, with calls for legislation to cover all forms of discrimination, protect migrant workers, and improve workplace fairness, while ensuring trust is built both ways between government and citizens.
The debate emphasized empowering seniors and youths, with suggestions for Men's Sheds to combat loneliness, flexible work arrangements, better mentoring programs, and housing policy adjustments to support young Singaporeans.

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10 Apr 2023

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health will strengthen pandemic preparedness by establishing a Communicable Diseases Agency, a permanent Crisis Strategy and Operations Group, and a healthcare reserve force, while advancing research and vaccine strategies through programmes like PREPARE.
Major investments will expand healthcare infrastructure, including new hospitals, polyclinics, and nursing homes, to add 1,900 public hospital beds and increase nursing home capacity to over 31,000 by 2030, alongside upgrading IT systems and growing the healthcare workforce by 40%.
A key focus is preventive care through initiatives like Healthier SG, which will enrol residents from July 2023, integrate health education in schools, and update regulations to make healthcare services and financing more premise-neutral.
For seniors, the default will be ageing in the community, supported by senior-friendly housing, expanded Active Ageing Centres, and strengthened palliative care, including enhanced financial support and care transitions.
MOH will embrace medical advances like precision medicine and AI while developing policies, legislation, and ethical frameworks to ensure their safe, evidence-based, and affordable integration into Singapore's healthcare system.

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22 Mar 2023

Expenditure on and Utilisation of National Electronic Health Record System

The total expenditure on the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system since its establishment in 2011 is around $660 million.
As of end-2022, over 90% of licensed private hospitals and nursing homes have view-access to NEHR, with nearly half contributing data; over 30% of licensed private ambulatory care providers have view-access, with 12% contributing data.
The Early Contribution Incentive Scheme in 2022 supported data contribution efforts, with four out of twelve applying laboratories receiving the grant and over 900 applications after its extension to GPs, hospitals, and laboratories.

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22 Mar 2023

Prescription Costs for Evrysdi for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the yearly prescription costs for Evrysdi in Singapore, the price range in other countries, and the drug pricing regulation mechanism.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the average yearly cost of risdiplam (Evrysdi) in Singapore is approximately S$375,000, with prices ranging from S$260,000 to S$390,000 in some countries where it is approved.
The Ministry of Health does not regulate drug prices in private hospitals, but for public health institutions, the Agency for Care Effectiveness conducts value-based pricing negotiations to align costs with patient outcomes and cover operational expenses.

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22 Mar 2023

Singaporeans Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Cost of Treatment

There are currently about 40 to 50 Singaporeans diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
The only approved treatment option registered with the Health Sciences Authority is Risdiplam.
Risdiplam costs approximately $375,000 per year in public healthcare institutions, with no mention of government subsidies in the provided statements.

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22 Mar 2023

Life Expectancy of Singaporeans Diagnosed with Rare Diseases

A Member of Parliament asked the Minister for Health for the number of Singaporeans newly diagnosed with rare diseases and their average life expectancy each year for the past decade.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, responded that rare diseases cover a broad spectrum of conditions.
The Ministry of Health does not track the incident number of Singaporeans newly diagnosed with rare diseases.
The Ministry also does not track the life expectancy of patients with these diseases.

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22 Mar 2023

Singaporeans Diagnosed with Rare Diseases and Coverage by Rare Disease Fund

Ong Ye Kung stated that 2,000 to 3,000 people in Singapore have rare diseases, with national healthcare schemes providing most financial support and the Rare Disease Fund (RDF) assisting a small percentage.
The RDF, established in 2019, has supported nine patients (about 0.4% of those with rare diseases), focusing on life-threatening conditions with effective treatments and expanding to cover seven medications for five diseases.
The RDF expands coverage by attracting donations, which are matched three-for-one by the government and enjoy a 2.5-times tax deduction, enabling it to fund lifelong treatments for more rare conditions.

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22 Mar 2023

Number and Percentage of Childcare Centres and Kindergartens Affected by Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Each Year

The Ministry of Health reported that between 2018 and 2022, the annual number of childcare centres with HFMD clusters ranged from 352 to 1,073 (affecting 23% to 66% of such centres), while kindergartens ranged from 34 to 152 clusters (affecting 11% to 37%).
HFMD cases and clusters decreased in 2020 and 2021, likely due to COVID-19 measures, but increased again in 2022, though it is unclear if this signals a sustained trend beyond pre-pandemic levels.
The ministry works with the Early Childhood Development Agency and Ministry of Education to monitor outbreaks and provide public health advice, noting that preschool closure is one tool among measures like early detection and hygiene to control spread.

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22 Mar 2023

Research and Pilot Trials to Promote and Expand Use of Productivity-enhancing Technologies by Care Providers

The Ministry of Health supports initiatives like the $90 million Population Health Research Grant and the $18 million Community Care Digital Transformation Plan to pilot and expand productivity-enhancing technologies for care providers.
Over $70 million has been awarded through the National Innovation Challenge on Active and Confident Ageing to fund research projects that integrate technologies such as smart sensors and AI to improve caregiving and staff productivity.
The government acknowledges the need to allocate more resources to develop better technologies to assist caregivers, emphasizing cross-cutting benefits across acute, community, and digital care sectors.

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22 Mar 2023

Impact of Mental Health-related Condition on Eligibility for Home Protection Scheme

Leon Perera asked whether mental health conditions affect eligibility for the Home Protection Scheme (HPS), seeking clarity on the rationale and specific conditions that may lead to ineligibility.
The Minister for Manpower clarified that eligibility is not solely based on mental health conditions but on the overall severity, prognosis, and control of the medical condition, with most mild or moderate cases covered.
Serious pre-existing mental health conditions assessed as high risk may lead to ineligibility, in line with industry practice to ensure affordability and scheme viability.
Perera followed up to confirm that a nuanced approach considering condition severity and type is used and questioned if outdated actuarial data is applied despite increased mental health diagnosis and reduced stigma.
The Minister affirmed a nuanced, expert-based approach and stated that data is continuously reviewed, with disclosure of pre-existing conditions required upfront to maintain the scheme’s sustainability and broad coverage.

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21 Mar 2023

Use of Handphones and Absence from Operating Theatre by Medical Professionals during Surgery

The Ministry for Health relies on the Singapore Medical Council's Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, which require medical professionals to prioritize patient care and avoid distractions in all clinical settings, including the operating theatre.
The use of handphones is not outright prohibited in hospitals because they are necessary for team-based communication, but medical professionals are expected to use them responsibly without jeopardizing patient safety.
Medical professionals who are negligently absent from the operating theatre during surgery are held accountable through disciplinary processes by their healthcare institution and may face sanctions from the Singapore Medical Council if a formal complaint is lodged.

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