Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

9 Jan 2023

Measures when Mortuaries are Unable to Cope with Surge in Demand

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Ministry of Health about immediate measures if mortuaries in Singapore cannot handle a surge in demand.
Ong Ye Kung explained that mortuaries managed by hospitals and HSA are temporary storage facilities with existing processes for timely transfer of the deceased.
He noted that over the past decade, mortuaries have met actual demand for space and that contingency plans, including mobile refrigerated containers, are in place to add capacity during surges.

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9 Jan 2023

Measures to Ensure Funeral Parlours Operate under Hygienic Conditions, and Store and Treat Bodies Respectfully

The National Environment Agency (NEA) licenses funeral parlours with embalming or body washing facilities and mandates hygienic washing facilities and thorough cleaning of body preparation rooms after each service.
NEA conducts periodic checks to ensure compliance with licensing conditions and regulations, with fines of up to $1,000 for first-time offenders and up to $2,000 for repeat offenders.
NEA has issued guidelines to promote best practices in handling deceased persons, aiming to maintain public health standards and provide respectful services to bereaved families.

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9 Jan 2023

Data on Full-time and Reservist National Servicemen who Passed Away while in Service or Suffered Permanent Disability and Compensation Paid

Over the past 20 years, 42 national servicemen passed away due to service and 52 suffered permanent disability from service injuries, with the SAF recording the highest numbers in both categories.
Compensation for deaths and disabilities is based on insurance coverage and additional payouts, with amounts ranging from several thousand to over $1.5 million and typically four times higher than industrial benchmarks.
Every serviceman is covered by life and injury insurance, which was doubled in 2023 to provide up to $300,000 in baseline payout.
The rates of death and permanent disability due to service are very low (under 0.002%), and authorities investigate incidents to improve safety, aiming for a zero-fatality rate.
Servicemen receive free long-term medical treatment for service-related injuries at military or public healthcare facilities.

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9 Jan 2023

Specific Actions to Expand Primary Care Network as Part of Healthier SG Strategy

The Ministry of Health is engaging GPs through various channels to encourage participation in Primary Care Networks, with over half already onboard and numbers expected to increase.
Some GPs have concerns about digitalisation, administration of Healthier SG benefits like drug subsidies, and potential impacts on operating costs and patient volume, which are being addressed.
A list of GP clinics participating in Primary Care Networks will be made available on HealthHub for residents to reference upon registering for Healthier SG.

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9 Jan 2023

Monitoring of Youth Mental Well-being with Implementation of National Mental Health Policies

Youths express a need for clearer, more accessible information on mental health services, including costs and delivery methods, with a preference for tailored support within their immediate social or occupational groups.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Youth Council regularly survey youths to gather feedback on their mental health challenges and aspirations, which informs policy considerations.
Public healthcare institutions and higher learning institutes conduct research to monitor the prevalence of mental health conditions among youth, contributing to the evaluation of national mental health policies.

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9 Jan 2023

Patients Delaying Discharge from Hospitals due to Lack of Suitable Care Arrangements at Home

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Ministry of Health for the number of patients delaying discharge due to unsuitable home care arrangements and statistics on the delay durations over the last three years.
MOH stated it does not track delays specifically for lack of suitable home care but monitors medically stable patients staying over 21 days in public hospitals, with a daily average of 220 such patients.
These patients await care arrangements like domestic helper training or care facility admission, and MOH is expanding the Interim Caregiver Service to support timely discharges.

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9 Jan 2023

Tinnitus Cases amongst Senior Singaporeans

Minister Ong Ye Kung noted that tinnitus is a perception of sound without an external source, commonly caused by age-related hearing loss, noise exposure, or earwax, and that its prevalence peaks among those aged 60 to 69.
He provided local data showing 17% of over 72,000 Singaporeans aged 60 and above reported tinnitus under Project Silver Screen from 2018 to 2020.
The Minister confirmed that no clinical studies have found tinnitus to be a contributory cause of noise complaints in neighbor disputes.

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9 Jan 2023

Proposals for Nutrition Labelling for Freshly Prepared Meals and Getting Singaporeans to Exercise More

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Ministry of Health about implementing nutrition labelling for freshly prepared meals, data on decreased exercise among office workers, and plans to encourage physical activity.
The Health Promotion Board is collaborating with food operators to offer lower-calorie meals and promote healthier ingredients, with identifiers like "lower in calories" displayed on menus.
Nutri-Grade labelling, currently for prepacked beverages, will be extended to freshly prepared beverages by end-2023.
National Population Health Survey data indicated reduced leisure physical activities, partly due to safe management measures and aging, but Healthier SG aims to promote healthier lifestyles.

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9 Jan 2023

COVID-19 Vaccination Trends and Rates amongst Youths and Seniors in Singapore

Dr Lim Wee Kiak inquired about increasing booster hesitancy among younger Singaporeans due to prior infection or perceived lower variant risk, and sought clarification on the advisability of annual boosters.
Miss Cheryl Chan asked for the current second booster rate among seniors aged 70 and above, and whether more seniors, including those in nursing homes, would be encouraged to take boosters amid global travel and winter season.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that vaccination recommendations require three to four initial doses for minimum protection and one additional dose for those aged 12 and above within 5–12 months, with bivalent vaccines recommended for updates.
As of end-2022, about 90% of seniors and 60% of adults aged 18–59 achieved minimum protection, with similar proportions up-to-date, and MOH facilitates walk-ins and mobile teams for convenience.
MOH emphasized that vaccination remains the primary defense, with ongoing reviews of national strategy, including nasal vaccines, while comparing COVID-19 boosters to annual influenza vaccination.

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9 Jan 2023

Safe and Orderly Restoration of Singapore's Air Connectivity

The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore have adopted a cautious, calibrated approach to restore air connectivity, starting with Vaccinated Travel Lanes and moving to a Vaccinated Travel Framework, prioritizing health protection while gradually resuming flights and passenger flows.
Changi Airport’s recovery is at about 80% of pre-pandemic levels, with flights to China currently at 38 weekly—far below the pre-COVID 400—reflecting a measured pace that balances demand, public health, and operational capacity.
Health measures remain voluntary, with high vaccination rates and daily booster shots encouraged through convenience and public communication; mask-wearing aligns with source or destination country requirements, and wastewater testing is deemed ineffective for short flights.
The government is prepared for new variants with protocols like pre-departure tests, on-arrival tests, and stay-home notices, while maintaining hospital capacity and expanding access to treatments like Paxlovid, though no immediate timeline is set for full restoration of pre-pandemic flight volumes.

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9 Jan 2023

Singapore's Response to Current Global COVID-19 Situation

The Minister explained that Singapore’s low infection rates from China are due to calibrated travel volume and vaccination/testing requirements, which have kept imported cases and severe illnesses minimal.
Singapore monitors global variants through GISAID and has found no new dangerous variants from China, while maintaining measures to protect healthcare capacity and prepare for potential new variants.
The government emphasizes that COVID-19 is now endemic and vaccination remains the best defense, with plans to ease restrictions as the situation stabilizes while remaining vigilant against future waves.

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9 Jan 2023

Monitoring of Evolving COVID-19 Situation and Flights Arriving from China at Changi Airport

Melvin Yong asked the Ministry of Transport how closely it is monitoring the COVID-19 situation in China and whether it plans to enhance airport measures for flights from China at Changi Airport.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary requested permission for the Minister to address the question later during the sitting, which the Speaker approved.
The debate highlights ongoing concerns about the pandemic's impact on travel and the government's responsiveness to evolving health risks.

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9 Jan 2023

Changes in Singapore's Measures Given Emergence of New COVID-19 Variants and Easing of China's COVID-19 Restrictions

The Minister for Health will deliver a Ministerial Statement addressing concerns about the impact of China easing travel restrictions on Singapore's COVID-19 situation, including measures to prevent new waves of infection.
The statement will cover the latest assessment of the risk posed by new COVID-19 variants and Singapore's preparedness in diagnostics, supply chains, and vaccine research and development.
It will also address preparedness of the healthcare system and manpower to handle potential new COVID-19 waves, including the necessity of additional booster doses, especially for the elderly.

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30 Nov 2022

Expanding List of Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications to Increase Pool of Qualified Singaporean Doctors

Gerald Giam asked if the Ministry of Health would expand the list of registrable medical qualifications and set up a system for overseas Singaporean doctors with non-registrable qualifications to practice in Singapore, aiming to increase the pool of qualified local doctors.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) regularly reviews the list, which currently recognizes 103 universities globally, and will continue to monitor if expansion is needed.
He confirmed that a system already exists for overseas Singaporean doctors with non-registrable qualifications to take a qualifying examination to register and practice in Singapore, ensuring quality while meeting their aspirations to return home.
The debate highlighted the government's commitment to maintaining high standards while addressing the need for more qualified Singaporean doctors through existing review and examination mechanisms.

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30 Nov 2022

Streamlined Process for Patients to Enrol in Healthier SG

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health to better monitor demand and take-up rates under Healthier SG and whether a centralised system would be created for patients to schedule appointments via phone or the HealthHub app.
Mr Yip Hon Weng further inquired whether eligible patients not registering with a GP under Healthier SG would be systematically targeted and incentivised to sign up, and if automatic enrolment with the nearest available GP would be considered.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that a centralised system will allow residents to sign up for Healthier SG, with clinics recently visited or near their home prioritised in options, and emphasised that enrolment is preferred as a conscious decision rather than automatic.
The Ministry is working with the Agency for Integrated Care and grassroots organisations to reach out to eligible residents and encourage them to enrol in Healthier SG.

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30 Nov 2022

Length of Service of Nurses Successful in Applications for Permanent Resident Status

MP Louis Ng asked for the average and median length of service of nurses who successfully obtained Permanent Resident status over the past five years.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the exact data is not readily available because employment records do not track PR nurses who switch employers within the public healthcare sector.
He added, based on anecdotal feedback, that nurses who gain PR status are likely to stay in service longer.

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30 Nov 2022

Enhancing Knowledge and Understanding of Palliative and End-of-life Care amongst Healthcare Professionals

The Ministry of Health has established a National Outcomes Framework for Medical Graduates that includes palliative care as a core learning outcome to guide medical school curricula.
Over 100 physicians have completed the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine programme, and all local nursing schools provide palliative care training through initiatives like the Palliative Nursing Competency Framework.
MOH collaborates with partners such as the Singapore Hospice Council and the Agency for Integrated Care to enhance awareness through training courses, seminars, and conferences for healthcare professionals.

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30 Nov 2022

Personal Alarms linked to Larger Healthcare Network for HDB's Enhancement for Active Seniors Programme

Yip Hon Weng asked whether personal alarm systems linked to senior care and the healthcare network can be included in HDB's Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme to help seniors live independently and safely.
Desmond Lee confirmed that HDB, with MOH and GovTech, has already implemented personal alarm systems linked to Active Ageing Centres and a 24/7 helpline in 53 rental blocks with high senior concentrations.
The ministry is reviewing feedback from users and service providers on these systems before considering further expansion to more rental flats and sold flats under EASE.
The suggestion will be taken into account during the review process.

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30 Nov 2022

Use of Technology to Enhance Care and Safety for Seniors Living Alone

MOH has funded studies under the National Innovation Challenge on Active and Confident Ageing, including a project by NTU that integrated smart home sensors to improve care efficiency and outcomes for seniors at home.
Another ongoing study by Tan Tock Seng Hospital is developing an automated sensor-enabled fall detection and rescue system to enhance safety for seniors living alone.
The government plans to scale up and deploy promising research projects to further support seniors' care and safety through technology.

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30 Nov 2022

Employment Pass to Attract and Retain Foreign Nurses at Restructured Hospitals

Mr. Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Manpower to create an improved Employment Pass specifically to attract and retain foreign nurses at restructured hospitals.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that foreign nurses are currently hired via Employment Pass or S Pass, with the government already exercising flexibility to meet manpower needs and working to ensure competitive salaries.
Mr. Ng raised concerns about high attrition rates among foreign nurses and asked if work pass conditions could be reviewed and dependants allowed to join them to improve retention.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the concerns, stated that these issues are being actively considered, and assured that appropriate flexibility is being explored to manage recruitment targets.

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