Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

7 Nov 2022

Containing Possible Spikes in COVID-19 Cases Following Large-scale Events

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Ministry of Health about plans to contain possible COVID-19 case spikes after large-scale events like the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted that high vaccination and boosting rates have helped Singapore manage past infection waves without overwhelming healthcare capacity.
He emphasized that while COVID-19 still circulates globally and may mutate, Singapore has progressively stepped down safe management measures to resume social and economic activities.
Ong Ye Kung highlighted that living with the virus requires personal responsibility, including staying up to date on vaccinations and taking precautions like isolating when unwell or wearing masks in crowded or vulnerable settings.
He acknowledged that events like Formula 1 carry higher transmission risks but are part of normal societal and economic functioning, underscoring the need for continued vigilance.

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7 Nov 2022

New COVID-19 Infections of XXB Variant Strain and Measures to Contain Its Spread

The Minister for Health stated that the XBB variant accounted for about 80% of local COVID-19 cases in the week of 24 to 30 October, and that the government managed the wave without reinstating safe management measures due to vaccination protection and public responsibility.
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce was prepared to impose additional measures like indoor mask mandates or vaccination-differentiated rules, but these were not needed as case numbers peaked and declined earlier than expected.
To protect healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health extended the bivalent Moderna/Spikevax vaccine to eligible healthcare workers from 25 October 2022, while maintaining infection prevention controls including personal protective equipment and mask-wearing in healthcare settings.
The Minister urged the public to continue exercising personal and social responsibility, mask up when unwell, test, and keep vaccinations up to date to prevent severe illness.
The government emphasized ongoing vigilance as XBB continues to spread, with the healthcare system prepared through enhanced protections and infection control measures.

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7 Nov 2022

Measures to Reduce and Compensate for Attrition of Doctors in Public Sector

The Ministry has increased local medical school intakes by about 60% over the past decade and admitted extra students during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also recruiting around 200 returning Singaporean doctors annually from countries like Australia, the UK, and Ireland, and supplementing with foreign doctors from India, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and the UK.
The attrition rate of doctors leaving the public sector for private practice is considered acceptable at 3-5% from 2019 to 2021, and efforts are ongoing to retain doctors in public healthcare.
The Ministry maintains that academic and safety standards for medical school admission and full registration must not be lowered, whether for local polytechnic graduates or foreign-trained doctors, to ensure competence and patient safety.

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7 Nov 2022

COVID-19 Infections within Residential Healthcare Facilities

Sylvia Lim asked about the number of COVID-19 infections contracted within residential healthcare facilities and whether current measures are effective, to which the Ministry reported about 330 hospital cases and 3,000 nursing home cases from April to September 2022, representing less than 1% of community cases and emphasizing vaccination as the primary defense.
The Ministry acknowledged that reported numbers may be underestimates due to not conducting daily testing but expressed confidence in the data's robustness, noting a risk-based approach to testing and modeling transmission based on three years of data.
Sylvia Lim raised concerns about underestimation, the predominance of patient-to-patient transmission versus healthcare worker-to-patient transmission, and the impact of ward design and ventilation on infections, with the Ministry responding that detailed studies would be needed to address transmission factors and confirming that design and ventilation are indeed being considered.
The Ministry highlighted that while infections occur, measures like isolation, vaccination (over 90% coverage for nursing home residents), and readiness to implement restrictions have kept Singapore's case fatality rate low at about 0.1%.
The debate concluded with the Ministry agreeing to provide further data if specific questions are filed, while maintaining that a simplistic view of transmission factors is inadequate given changing COVID-19 variants and measures.

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20 Oct 2022

Circumstances for Inclusion of More Efficacious Medicine in Rare Disease Fund

The Rare Disease Fund (RDF) evaluates treatments based on their effectiveness in extending lifespan and improving quality of life, considering the unique nature of each rare disease and the limited fund size.
The RDF Committee already uses a tiered support model to determine the amount of financing support for each approved treatment, balancing efficacy and cost.
The Government encourages public donations to the RDF, which are matched three-for-one and eligible for enhanced tax deductions, to help cover more expensive, efficacious medicines.

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20 Oct 2022

Proportion of Private Home Residents Located within Eldercare Centre Service Boundary

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health about the proportion of private home residents, including cash-poor elderly in long-owned properties, currently and projected to be within eldercare centre service boundaries, with a specific query on the Serangoon Gardens estate.
Ong Ye Kung responded that about 17% of seniors in private housing estates are currently within Active Ageing Centre (AAC) service boundaries, with plans to more than double this proportion by 2025 through expanding to 220 AACs.
The Minister confirmed there is currently no AAC for Serangoon Gardens, but MOH is expanding AAC coverage to include seniors in that estate.

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20 Oct 2022

Breakdown of Foreign-trained Doctors Registered as New Medical Practitioners in Last Five Years

Over the past five years, a total of 2,780 foreign-trained doctors were newly registered as medical practitioners in Singapore.
Of these new registrants, 274 are currently on the Family Physicians Register.
Among those in family medicine, 116 are Singapore Citizens, 133 are Permanent Residents, and 25 are non-residents.

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20 Oct 2022

Need to Toughen Punishment for Importers and Users of Electronic Vaporisers

Desmond Choo inquired about stricter penalties for those importing and using electronic vaporisers.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the Ministry of Health will continue collaborating with partner agencies to enhance existing measures against e-cigarette supply and demand.
He mentioned that a more comprehensive reply on this matter will be provided during the next parliamentary sitting, referencing a previous official report on preventive strategies.

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20 Oct 2022

Reopening Vaccination Centres at Community Centres in Areas with Higher Density of Older Residents

Leon Perera proposed reopening vaccination centres at community clubs and centres in areas with more older residents to support COVID-19 booster and fourth-dose vaccinations.
He specifically asked about reopening the vaccination centre at Serangoon CC.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the issue was addressed in the reply to another oral question on the same day.

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20 Oct 2022

Fees Paid to Family Doctors and Healthcare Clusters for Locals and Foreigners under Healthier SG Plan

Hazel Poa asked if there will be any difference in fees paid to family doctors and healthcare clusters for locals and foreigners under the Healthier SG plan.
Ong Ye Kung stated that participating GP clinics will receive an annual service fee for each enrolled resident, and this fee will not differ based on nationality.
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents will receive fully subsidized onboarding consultations and annual check-ins with their enrolled family doctor, with Citizens also getting fully subsidized national health screenings and vaccinations.
Foreigners are not eligible for these subsidies under the Healthier SG plan.

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20 Oct 2022

Checks on Authenticity of Doctors' Degrees and Quality of Candidates

The Ministry of Health only recruits doctors from two recognized Indian medical schools who have at least three years of work experience in selected hospitals, and these applicants undergo interviews by a panel of local clinicians to assess their clinical competencies.
Applicants must provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the India National Medical Commission and testimonials from their workplaces, and the Singapore Medical Council conducts source verification of their medical qualifications before they are allowed to practise.
The recruitment process involves multiple checks, including interviews and document verification, with the Singapore Medical Council responsible for verifying the authenticity of degrees and ensuring the quality of candidates.

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20 Oct 2022

Precautions in Place to Ensure Safety of Imported Cough Syrups

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approves cough syrups for sale only after assessing them against international standards for quality, safety, and efficacy, including clinical data and manufacturing processes.
HSA requires manufacturers to test all batches for contaminants and conducts regular inspections and post-market surveillance, including risk-based product testing.
If cough syrups fail to meet standards, HSA can stop sales, issue recalls, and prosecute offenders, who may face up to two years' imprisonment or a $50,000 fine.

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20 Oct 2022

More Support for Elderly Caregivers

Christopher de Souza requested more support for elderly caregivers, especially those caring for family members alone.
The government outlined initiatives like Healthier SG to promote senior health and Active Ageing Centres to build social networks and community support.
Financial aid was highlighted, including an increased Home Caregiving Grant and the Silver Support Scheme for low-income seniors.
The Enabling Masterplan 2030 aims to improve respite and support services for caregivers of persons with disabilities through pilot hubs.
Caregivers are directed to the Agency for Integrated Care for further assistance and information.

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20 Oct 2022

Encouraging Singaporeans to Plan Comprehensively for Their Own Care in Old Age

The Ministry of Health is working with other government agencies to encourage Singaporeans to plan comprehensively for old age through tools like Lasting Power of Attorney, estate planning, and Advanced Medical Directives.
The whole-of-government My Legacy portal provides information and services for life planning, end-of-life care, and estate settlement, including a bundled tool for drafting Lasting Power of Attorney and Advance Care Plans.
Outreach efforts such as workshops at Active Ageing Centres and engagement at community touchpoints are being conducted to increase awareness and uptake of these planning tools.

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20 Oct 2022

Applications for Pre-Employment Grant by Singaporeans Studying Medicine Overseas

Member Gerald Giam inquired about annual statistics on Singaporean students applying for the Pre-Employment Grant (PEG) for overseas medicine studies, including approval rates, median grant amounts, reasons for rejection, and whether the grant quota could be increased to attract more doctors to return.
Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed the PEG was introduced in 2010 to encourage overseas-trained Singaporean doctors to return, with about 120 students awarded annually and a median grant of approximately $80,000 over two years.
The Minister explained that approval rates vary yearly based on applicant pool and public healthcare hiring demand, with applications assessed holistically on academic performance, professionalism, and commitment to serve locally.

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20 Oct 2022

Steps to Take Following Consumption of Recalled Food Products

Joan Pereira asked what consumers should do after consuming recalled food and what recourse they have if they fall ill.
Grace Fu explained that SFA recalls non-compliant food products and advises consumers to stop consuming them.
Consumers who have eaten recalled products should monitor their health and seek medical advice if unwell.
Consumers should check with their points of purchase for refund and medical expense reimbursement policies.

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20 Oct 2022

Effectiveness of Deploying Airline Crew to Hospitals during COVID-19 Pandemic

MOH deployed about 900 airline crew from Singapore Airlines Group as Care Ambassadors in healthcare institutions until March 2022 to help with pandemic manpower shortages.
The crew's service and communication skills contributed to effective patient care and allowed healthcare staff to focus on more complex tasks.
The experience demonstrated that trained individuals from other sectors can meaningfully support healthcare, and MOH plans to continue investing in mid-career training pathways for career switchers into support care.

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20 Oct 2022

Review of Cause for Disruption to Electronic Medical System on 29 September 2022

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for Health about the cause of the 29 September 2022 electronic medical system disruption, the timeline for system review and upgrades, and interim goals to reduce downtime during outages.
The disruption was caused by a software error in the firewall of a backup data centre, with the root cause fully rectified through network and disaster recovery design improvements.
The government will upgrade systems when deemed necessary and is reviewing downtime and business continuity processes to minimise outage impacts.

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20 Oct 2022

Impact of Wearing Face Masks during COVID-19 Pandemic on Preschoolers' Social Development

Mr Murali Pillai asked whether MOE has commissioned any study on the impact of preschool children wearing face masks during COVID-19 on their social development and strategies for Primary school transition.
MOE has not commissioned formal studies on the impact of mask wearing on preschool children's social and emotional development, noting it is hard to determine effects within this short timeframe.
Based on child development theories and feedback from teachers and parents, children benefit from seeing teachers’ and caregivers’ faces and full expressions for language and social development.
While most children may have adapted to mask wearing, the efficacy of their coping strategies cannot be ascertained, but teachers will continue monitoring and supporting holistic development.

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20 Oct 2022

Seniors who Succeed in Obtaining Subsidies for Rehabilitative Physiotherapy Sessions

The average pre-subsidy fee for rehabilitative physiotherapy sessions in subsidised community care organisations is about $95 per session.
Approximately 80% of seniors receiving such services in 2021 benefited from means-tested subsidies of up to 80%.
The Ministry of Health does not have data on the number of seniors who discontinue sessions due to financial difficulties.
Seniors facing financial hardship can apply for discretionary assistance, such as MediFund, to help cover rehabilitation costs.

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