Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

6 Feb 2023

Strengthening Mental Wellness at the Workplace

Edward Chia argued that the pandemic highlighted the importance of workplace mental wellness, noting low employer adoption rates in Singapore compared to other countries, and proposed a roadmap including regular mental health assessments using tools like iWorkHealth, integrating well-being into company strategies, upskilling HR and managers, and expanding Employee Assistance Programme services.
He called for government support to scale up iWorkHealth adoption, enhance mental health frameworks, and provide funding or incentives for SMEs to implement mental wellness interventions, while also suggesting recognition through awards like the Company of Good programme.
Minister Gan Siow Huang acknowledged the progress made, citing increased adoption of mental well-being initiatives among employers, and outlined government efforts such as the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health, promotion of iWorkHealth, and support through programmes like Total WSH and SkillsFuture courses.
Both speakers emphasized the need to reduce stigma, normalize conversations about mental health, and foster a culture where employees take ownership of their well-being, with the government committed to incorporating stakeholder inputs to strengthen workplace mental wellness support.

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6 Feb 2023

Healthcare Services (Amendment) Bill

The Senior Minister for Health presented the Bill to amend the Healthcare Services Act 2020 and make related amendments to other Acts.
The Bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading after the conclusion of the FY2023/2024 Estimates of Expenditure proceedings.
The debate focused on the procedural introduction of the Bill with no substantive policy speeches recorded in the provided text.

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6 Feb 2023

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill

The Bill was presented by Senior Minister for Health Dr Janil Puthucheary on behalf of the Minister for Health to amend the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.
It was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading after the conclusion of proceedings on the Estimates of Expenditure for FY2023/2024.
The Bill will be printed following the second reading.

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6 Feb 2023

Reviewing Need for SG Arrival Card for Returning Singaporeans and Residents

Liang Eng Hwa questioned whether the SG Arrival Card remains necessary, the value of its health data for public health surveillance, and if that data could be sourced from existing government systems.
Minister Ong Ye Kung explained the card was introduced for disease control, requiring all travelers to digitally declare health status to guard against diseases like Yellow Fever, MERS, and Ebola, with streamlined questions not captured elsewhere.
Liang asked if the card is intended to be permanent and whether the system can be quickly reactivated if stood down.
Ong confirmed the card is a permanent feature to prevent endemic diseases from becoming established in Singapore, with ongoing reviews.

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10 Jan 2023

Children Diagnosed with Achondroplasia and Funding Its Treatment under Rare Disease Fund

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Ministry of Health about the number of children diagnosed with Achondroplasia in Singapore over the past decade, the prospects of funding its treatment under the Rare Disease Fund, and the possibility of engaging Voxzogo's manufacturers for more affordable access.
Ong Ye Kung stated that Achondroplasia affects approximately one in 30,000 newborns globally but the Ministry does not collect local data, and the drug Vosoritide (Voxzogo) is not registered in Singapore, so no clinical or cost assessments have been conducted.
The Rare Disease Fund prioritizes funding for life-threatening rare conditions with treatments that extend lifespan, and with rising healthcare costs, authorities worldwide are reviewing financing policies to maintain affordability and cost-effectiveness.

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10 Jan 2023

Sufficiency of Medical Supplies to Meet Demand due to Increased COVID-19 Infections

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about the current status of medical supplies like oxygenators and pulse oximeters, and whether Singapore has sufficient buffer for increased COVID-19 infections.
Ong Ye Kung indicated that the question was addressed in his previous reply to Questions 7 and 8 on 10 January 2023.
The debate highlighted concerns over stockpile adequacy but did not provide new details on supply levels or buffer capacity.
The exchange suggests reliance on prior parliamentary responses rather than fresh information.
No direct answer was given on the sufficiency of medical supplies in this debate session.

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10 Jan 2023

Number of Patients in Restructured Hospitals with Procedures Postponed or Cancelled due to Inability to Put Up Requisite Deposit

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Health for the number of patients in restructured hospitals whose procedures were postponed or cancelled over the last five years due to inability to pay the required deposit, broken down by residency status.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung replied that the question had already been addressed in his response to a prior oral question (Question No. 20) on January 10, 2023.

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10 Jan 2023

Longer Waiting Times at Emergency Departments of Hospitals Located in Peripheral Residential Towns

The Minister for Health explained that longer emergency department waiting times at peripheral hospitals are due to larger bed capacities at central tertiary hospitals and high demand in housing estates, especially during the pandemic.
He noted that new bed capacity will be added with the opening of Woodlands Health Campus and Tan Tock Seng Hospital Integrated Care Hub from 2023, and a new hospital in the Eastern region is planned.
He emphasized the importance of the Healthier SG national strategy to keep the population healthy and reduce healthcare load.

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10 Jan 2023

Impact of Online Shopping Websites and Platforms on Regulation of Health and Cosmetics Products

Saktiandi Supaat questioned how online shopping platforms have affected regulation of health and cosmetic products, lessons from a case where a child was hospitalized after using a skin cream, and how residents can better identify HSA-approved products.
Ong Ye Kung explained that pharmaceutical medicines require HSA approval, while complementary health products and cosmetics must meet safety standards but do not need approval, with HSA conducting post-market surveillance and monitoring online sales for illegal products.
HSA issues press releases and advisories to guide consumers, including one after the child's hospitalization, and penalties for selling adulterated products include fines up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to three years.

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10 Jan 2023

Proposal to Capture Information on the Prevalence of Vaping and Other Forms of E-cigarettes in Future National Population Health Surveys

Yip Hon Weng asked if the Ministry of Health will include vaping and e-cigarette data in future National Population Health Surveys.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed that vaping questions are already included in the survey.
He noted that self-reported data may be unreliable due to the illegal status of vaping products.
The Ministry is reviewing methods to better estimate vaping prevalence.
The debate highlights the challenge of accurately capturing data on illegal substances through surveys.

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10 Jan 2023

Restructured Hospitals Requiring Deposits Before Commencing Medical Procedures or Treatment

Under current guidelines, restructured hospitals are not to collect deposits from subsidised Singapore Citizens for non-elective inpatient treatments and day surgeries claimable under MediShield Life and/or MediSave, with exceptions for patients who refuse to settle long-standing bills despite having the means.
For elective procedures claimable under MediShield Life and/or MediSave, a small deposit of up to $50 may be collected from subsidised Singapore Citizens to discourage no-shows, while deposits for Permanent Residents, foreigners, and Singapore Citizens opting for private care are based on remaining out-of-pocket costs after accounting for various insurance and savings.
Hospitals may waive deposits or provide financial assistance for patients with difficulty affording them, and no individual is denied timely treatment during medical exigencies regardless of citizenship status; the Ministry of Health does not track data on procedures postponed or cancelled due to deposit issues.

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10 Jan 2023

Flexibility under Work Pass Framework to Hire Foreign Nurses to Meet Healthcare Sector Needs

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower to provide flexibility under the work pass framework to hire foreign nurses to meet healthcare manpower needs.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that additional work pass quotas and greater flexibility have been allocated to recruit foreign nurses from non-traditional sources, which are being used judiciously.
Louis Ng sought clarification on whether the Dependant's Pass applications for foreign nurses are being monitored and if the application process could be made more favourable.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the concern and stated that the issue is being looked into specifically.
The debate highlighted the need to address foreign nurses' concerns about bringing their families to Singapore to retain talent in the healthcare sector.

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10 Jan 2023

Sufficiency of Over-the-counter Medicine Supplies in Singapore

MOH monitors over-the-counter medicine supplies, particularly during demand surges, and works with retailers to ensure adequate stock, with national stockpiles reserved for public healthcare institutions and sales limits imposed in extreme shortages.
While there were temporary localised shortages of specific fever/cough/cold medicines late last year due to viral infections, retailers switched customers to alternatives and stocks have since improved, with ongoing monitoring using various data tools.
In the endemic COVID-19 era, less panic buying is expected, and the public is advised to use generic medications and avoid unnecessary mucolytics, while MOH maintains a live view of vendor and national stocks to prevent shortages.

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10 Jan 2023

Proposal for Cohort Smoking Ban in Singapore

Members of Parliament inquired about Singapore's plans to adopt a cohort smoking ban similar to New Zealand's, including updates on studies, implementation challenges, and potential timelines.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) indicated it is studying New Zealand's approach but noted differences such as Singapore's ban on vaping and the need to address peer-to-peer supply of tobacco.
MOH emphasized that while no immediate decision has been made, the government is continually reviewing anti-smoking measures and learning from international developments to ensure effectiveness in Singapore's context.
Questions were raised about potentially raising the smoking age further and the government's commitment to a timeline for reviewing the cohort ban, with MOH affirming ongoing efforts without specifying a deadline.

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9 Jan 2023

Clarification by Minister for Health

Minister Ong Ye Kung clarified that the SG Arrival Card, originally physical for foreigners, was digitized due to COVID-19 for all foreigners and returning residents arriving by air and sea.
The Ministry of Health and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority reduced the questions to a minimum during the digital transition, prompting a Member’s concern about its usefulness.
The Minister indicated a potential review to possibly add more questions to the SG Arrival Card based on the feedback received.

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9 Jan 2023

Requirement for Occupational Therapists to Complete Return-to-work Competency Certification from Approved Institutes

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry of Manpower plans to make it compulsory for private and public hospital occupational therapists to complete a return-to-work competency certification from an approved institute before facilitating a worker's return to work.
Tan See Leng clarified that there is no mandated requirement for such certification, as occupational therapists are regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council and trained to rehabilitate patients for everyday activities, including work.
Tan added that those who voluntarily complete return-to-work certification courses receive extra training for better case management, including employer collaboration for workplace adjustments.
The Ministry of Manpower previously had MOUs with restructured hospitals to fund return-to-work certification courses, which concluded in 2022, and such programmes improved return-to-work rates from 75% to 95%.
Hospitals continue to run return-to-work programmes, but there is no move to mandate certification for private practice or hospital therapists.

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9 Jan 2023

Insurance Coverage for National Athletes

The Minister explained that under the spexCarding programme, national carded athletes receive medical insurance for sports-related injuries during training and competitions, with coverage lasting their entire carding period.
Additional insurance is provided by the SNOC and SNPC for athletes in Major Games, covering personal effects, injury, or death for the duration of the Games, while National Sports Associations are encouraged to insure their athletes during overseas activities.
Athletes’ personal insurance supplements these coverages, with most injury claims fully covered and financial assistance available from SSI if needed; all carded athletes also access medical and rehabilitation services at SSI in collaboration with Changi General Hospital.

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9 Jan 2023

Data on Annual Leave Application and Non-working Rest Hours of Junior Doctors in Public Hospitals

Leon Perera asked for data on annual leave forfeitures, average non-working rest hours after 24-hour shifts, and measures against under-reporting of junior doctors' work hours in public hospitals over the last three years.
Ong Ye Kung stated that junior doctors took 14 to 18.9 days of annual leave on average from 2019 to 2021, with lower utilisation in 2020, but MOH does not track leave cancellations as they are managed at the institutional level.
Healthcare institutions monitor work hours via electronic logging and surveys, with about 90% of residents having at least 10-hour rest intervals, and no systemic under-reporting has been detected; a whistle-blowing channel exists for anonymous reports.
MOH has established a national committee chaired by a senior doctor to improve junior doctors' well-being, emphasising the medical profession's responsibility to care for juniors.

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9 Jan 2023

Circumstances and Data on Cases where Hospitals Engage Authorised Debt Collection Agencies to Collect Arrears

From 2017 to 2021, hospitals referred a median of 194,740 bills (2.44% of total bills) to collection agencies, with a median outstanding amount of $103.86 per bill.
Debt collection agencies are engaged only after patients do not respond to hospital reminders via SMS, phone calls, and letters for about three months.
Patients who are applying for MediFund or other financial assistance are not pursued by collection agencies during their application period.

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9 Jan 2023

Medical Claims for Larger Range of Outpatient Treatments that Do Not Require Hospitalisation

Gerald Giam asked whether plans exist to expand medical claims coverage for a wider range of outpatient treatments that do not require hospitalisation to reduce financial burdens and hospital bed demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that Integrated Shield Plans are optional private insurance, complementing MediShield Life, and already cover hospitalisation, day surgeries, and select outpatient treatments like dialysis and cancer therapies.
He noted that insurers have introduced new outpatient benefits and regularly review coverage, while MOH engages with them to balance medical advances, patient needs, and premium affordability.

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