Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

7 Feb 2023

Ensuring Ethical Standards amongst Those Working in Mental Healthcare Sector

Melvin Yong Yik Chye inquired about safeguards to ensure ethical standards among mental healthcare workers, prompting Minister Ong Ye Kung to detail existing measures such as mandatory care processes, clinical governance frameworks, and audits for MOH-funded services.
Ong Ye Kung noted that professional standards are regulated by bodies like the Singapore Medical Council and Singapore Nursing Board, with mechanisms for public feedback and complaints to MOH, professional boards, or associations if ethical concerns arise.
The debate highlighted the role of professional associations, such as the Singapore Psychological Society and Singapore Association for Counselling, in issuing ethical conduct guidelines, alongside ongoing efforts to develop common training standards and competencies for mental health professionals.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Take-up Rate of COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Below Age Five and Number of Reported Adverse Reactions

The take-up rate of COVID-19 vaccination for Singaporean children aged six months to four years was about 11% as of January 31, 2023.
Out of approximately 16,448 vaccine doses administered to this group, there were five reported serious adverse events, representing a 0.03% incident rate.
The Ministry of Health will consider including vaccination statistics for children under five in its published data as the vaccination exercise progresses.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Sufficiency of Manpower and Specialised Skills in Government Hospitals and Measures to Attract Quality Professionals

The Ministry of Health projects a need to grow healthcare manpower by approximately 3,000 nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff, along with 700 junior doctors annually to meet rising demand from an ageing population.
Ongoing initiatives include nurturing healthcare workers through education institutions, training and developing staff within public healthcare institutions, and offering mid-career conversion programmes.
The Ministry continues to redesign care models and job responsibilities, actively recruit foreign healthcare workers to complement the local workforce, and regularly review salaries to ensure competitiveness.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Verification of Mental or Physical Health of Inmate against Public Hospital Records at Time of Admission

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked whether the Singapore Prison Service verifies inmates' mental or physical health against public hospital records at admission.
K Shanmugam stated that all inmates undergo health screening upon admission, including checks of the National Electronic Health Records for pre-existing conditions and mental health.
The Prison Medical Officer also consults the National Immunisation Registry for vaccination records and uses a screening questionnaire and physical examination to assess health and detect urgent or infectious conditions.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Estimated Timeline to Complete Review and Checks on COVID-19-related Procurement and Expenditure

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that agencies have been conducting internal audits on COVID-19 spending since early 2022, focusing on the effectiveness of controls and the validity of payments, with findings reported to senior management and audit committees.
He noted that the $72.3 billion in COVID-19 expenditure included a wide range of health and support measures, with over half already audited and the remaining audits expected to be completed by the end of Financial Year 2024.
The timeline for completing the review and following up with agencies on rectifications and recovery of erroneous payments is aligned with the audit schedule, targeting completion by the end of Financial Year 2024.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Data on Locally Trained Medical Doctors Accepted into Residency Programmes

Between 2017 and 2021, about 53% of local medical graduates were matched to residency positions, with 96% of residency slots filled by locally and foreign-trained locals, though the process is competitive and may take years.
Many doctors remain in public healthcare after their bond, working in hospitals or polyclinics under schemes like the Hospital Clinician programme to build broad-based clinical skills.
The Ministry does not track career paths of doctors who leave public institutions, but some become general practitioners or pursue further training in family medicine to support the Healthier SG strategy.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Annual Tax Collected on Tobacco Product Sales and Whether This Covers Cost of Treating Smoking-related Diseases

For FY2019 to FY2021, the Government collected about $1.3 billion per year on average from tobacco duties.
The costs of smoking include both direct healthcare expenses and indirect costs like productivity losses, which are considered when setting tobacco tax rates.
The primary aim of tobacco taxation is not to cover smoking-related costs but to reduce tobacco consumption and its negative effects through a multi-pronged approach.
The Government regularly reviews tobacco tax rates to ensure they remain effective in discouraging tobacco use.
Tobacco taxes are part of a broader strategy that includes public education, smoking cessation support, and controls on tobacco advertising and sales to minors.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Update on Popular Places Pass Scheme for Migrant Workers Staying in Dormitories

He Ting Ru inquired about the current status and future timeline for winding down the Popular Places Pass scheme for migrant workers in dormitories.
Tan See Leng confirmed the pass remains a contingency measure for managing crowds at four designated locations on Sundays and public holidays, but no worker has been denied access or penalized for not having a pass.
The pass has been effectively dormant since VDS were lifted in October 2022, and MOM will continue reviewing and easing measures based on the COVID-19 situation.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Healthcare Workers with Severe Adverse Reactions from COVID-19 Vaccinations

The Ministry of Health reported 20 serious adverse events among healthcare workers post-vaccination, with six requiring 15–30 days of work absence and three requiring over 30 days.
Public healthcare clusters provide medical benefits, sick leave, and hospitalisation leave to affected staff, with one case at Singapore General Hospital where the individual could not resume work and was referred to the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme.
The overall incidence rate of serious side effects is approximately 0.007% (seven per 100,000), and the causal link to vaccinations has not been established for all reported cases.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Grant, Transfer and Capital Injection Flows Into and Out of MOH Holdings

MOH Holdings (MOHH) is a 100% government-owned holding company that provides operational support and services to public healthcare institutions like SingHealth, NHG, and NUH.
Grants, transfers, and capital injections to and from MOHH are accounted for in the Government Financial Statements submitted to Parliament.
MOHH’s financial reports are audited and publicly available through the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, though they are not directly submitted to Parliament.
MOHH operates on a not-for-profit basis, recovering costs from public institutions with the Ministry of Health funding the remaining expenditure.
The assets, revenues, costs, and accumulated profits or losses of MOHH for the last five financial years are disclosed in its publicly accessible audited financial reports.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Trend of Vaping among School and Tertiary Institute Students

Dr Wan Rizal queried the current vaping trend among students in primary, secondary, pre-university, and tertiary institutions and asked about measures schools and institutes have taken to address vaping on their premises.
The Ministry of Education stated it takes a firm stance against vaping, partnering with health agencies to educate students on the harms of e-cigarettes and vaporizers, and teaching them about Singapore's laws, consequences, and skills to resist peer pressure.
When students are caught vaping or possessing such devices, items are confiscated, parents are informed, and disciplinary actions like suspension or caning may be applied, with referrals to health and counseling programs for cessation support.
Recalcitrant offenders may be referred to the Health Sciences Authority, which can issue fines, and institutions including universities and polytechnics also promote awareness of vaping risks and a vaporizer-free lifestyle.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Reviewing Enforcement Measures on Users and Sellers of Vaporisers and Related Consumables

The Ministry of Health is reviewing enforcement and education strategies to address the rising popularity of vaping, noting concerns about attractive flavours, online sales, and misconceptions about its harms.
Officials emphasize a multi-pronged approach involving the Health Sciences Authority, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, schools, and health promotion boards to curb illegal imports and raise youth awareness.
Despite existing efforts, there is a worrying upward trend in vaping, prompting calls for stronger community involvement and digital campaigns to counter misinformation and encourage a nicotine-free lifestyle.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Installation of Drinking Water Fountains in Areas of High Footfall

Leon Perera proposed mandating water coolers in high-footfall areas to promote hydration and health, while the Ministry of Health highlighted ongoing efforts with agencies to install dispensers in hawker centres, parks, and transport hubs, encouraging voluntary installation elsewhere.
Perera asked if the initiative could extend to other high-footfall areas like tourist spots and questioned barriers to faster expansion, citing national health challenges and public calls for more water coolers.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that mandatory installation would require regulation and enforcement, noting that drinking water is already potable from taps, but the ministry is open to encouraging hydration through multifaceted lifestyle strategies and nudges.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Proposal for Public Consultation on Generational Ban on Smoking

Mr Louis Ng asked if the Ministry of Health would conduct a public consultation and set up a citizens' workgroup to study a generational ban on smoking.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary replied that MOH is reviewing the feasibility of a Tobacco-Free Generation policy and will consider public consultation or other engagement methods.
Mr Ng followed up to specifically ask about the citizens' workgroup proposal.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that MOH is not closed to different engagement modalities and will consider the workgroup idea as part of gathering public feedback.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2023

Alleged Increased Risk of Stroke for Older People who have Received Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Ministry of Health if it is studying a U.S. CDC preliminary signal suggesting an increased stroke risk for seniors who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine.
The Senior Minister of State for Health replied that international and local data do not validate this risk, and health authorities maintain that the benefits of bivalent vaccines outweigh the risks.
Mr Yip Hon Weng raised seniors' concerns affecting vaccine take-up, and the Minister emphasized a multi-stakeholder approach to transparently address fears and encourage vaccination.
Ms Pereira further inquired about stroke cases under the Vaccination Injury Financial Assistance Programme, and the Minister confirmed zero ischemic stroke cases among recipients.
The Ministry continues robust safety monitoring across the population and encourages MPs to help communicate accurate information to allay concerns.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2023

Update on Staff Well-Being Committee's Work Relating to Nurses

Mr Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health (MOH) how it is monitoring the effectiveness of staff well-being initiatives for nurses, what feedback has been received on policy changes, and what steps have been taken on that feedback.
MOH noted that the cross-cluster Staff Well-being Committee was formed in 2019 and has since completed its work, providing recommendations that led to the establishment of a Tripartite Workgroup on abuse and harassment, which is finalizing its recommendations.
Public healthcare clusters have enhanced support measures including the appointment of Chief Wellness Officers, counselling services, peer-support networks, and staff support assistance plans.
MOH will continue to work closely with MOH Holdings and public healthcare clusters to further improve staff well-being.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2023

Measures to Curb Rise in Vaping

The Ministry of Health is using a multi-pronged approach that includes monitoring illicit sales on social media, conducting enforcement operations, and collaborating with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Carousell to remove illegal postings.
Authorities such as the Health Sciences Authority and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority work together to detect and intercept illegal imports of e-vaporisers at checkpoints.
Public education efforts are being strengthened, with schools taking disciplinary action for students caught vaping and the Health Promotion Board launching a digital campaign in early 2023 to raise awareness about the health risks of vaping.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2023

Lifting of All COVID-19 Measures Including Mask Wearing on Public Transport and in Healthcare Facilities

Yip Hon Weng inquired about the criteria and timeline for removing all COVID-19 restrictions, such as masks on public transport and in healthcare facilities.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the government is reviewing remaining measures to establish a new post-pandemic normal, with progress ongoing.
The review considers recent holiday gatherings, winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and China's reopening.
A decision on lifting measures will follow this assessment, though no specific date was provided.
The debate centers on balancing public health with transitioning to a sustainable approach after the pandemic.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2023

Planning Parameters for Obstetrics and Gynaecology or Paediatric Care Services in Public Hospitals

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked what factors determine the availability of obstetrics and gynaecology (OG) or paediatric services in public hospitals, and if more such services should be placed in areas with high concentrations of younger families like Sengkang and Punggol.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) considers national and regional demographic and demand trends when planning these services.
Sengkang General Hospital offers outpatient OG and general paediatric services, including pre- and post-natal screening and basic fertility consultations, for families in the northeast region.
Public inpatient OG and paediatric services are centralised at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National University Hospital, and Singapore General Hospital to consolidate expertise and resources for optimal patient outcomes.
This centralised arrangement is deemed practical and effective given Singapore’s compact size and relatively short travel distances.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2023

Ensuring Smooth and Fair Police Investigation Process for Alleged Offenders with Disabilities and Mental Challenges

Police Officers are trained to identify signs of mental disability and work with the Agency for Integrated Care to improve their awareness and interaction skills, and they can activate Appropriate Adults to provide emotional support and facilitate communication during investigations.
To be an Appropriate Adult, individuals must be 21 or older, patient, level-headed, and capable of sound reasoning, and they must complete a one-day training by MINDS where their suitability is assessed, with ongoing competency feedback provided by Police Officers.
Police refer alleged offenders with mental disabilities to social workers for assessment and onward referral to relevant agencies, and they notify parents, guardians, and schools if the individual is studying to ensure support during investigations.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source