Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

3 Oct 2022

Response to Research Showing Correlation between Increased Social Media Use and Suicidal Behaviour

Dr Shahira Abdullah proposed that the Ministry consider a suicide prevention strategy requiring social media companies to implement upstream measures like education and resources, aligning with the proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety.
Minister Josephine Teo responded that the Code of Practice will mandate designated social media services to protect users from harmful content, including suicide-related material, and to provide accessible safety information and local resources.
The Minister added that social media services must offer relevant suicide prevention information, such as local hotlines, when users search for high-risk terms, emphasizing a whole-of-society approach involving multiple agencies and community partnerships.

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3 Oct 2022

Annual Arrears from Medical Services Provided at Public Hospitals to Foreigners

Don Wee inquired about the arrears owed by foreigners to public hospitals over the last five years and suggested a mandatory $30,000 medical insurance requirement for all travelers entering Singapore.
Ong Ye Kung reported that arrears from foreigners constituted less than 0.1% of total bills issued by Public Healthcare Institutions between 2017 and 2021, including residents, workers, and visitors.
Public Healthcare Institutions implement measures like downgrading options, reminder letters, and follow-up calls to manage arrears, with the Ministry of Health prepared to consider additional steps if the situation worsens.

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3 Oct 2022

Proposal for National Mental Well-being Office

Shahira Abdullah asked the Minister for Health for an update on establishing a permanent national mental well-being office, its potential placement under the Prime Minister’s Office, and the considerations for that decision.
Ong Ye Kung explained that an Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being was established last July to coordinate efforts and has recently concluded public consultation to refine its recommendations.
The Taskforce is currently reviewing feedback from the public consultation to better coordinate national mental health initiatives.
The debate focuses on the government’s approach to structuring national mental well-being efforts and the rationale for placing a potential office under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The response indicates ongoing work to finalize recommendations rather than an immediate decision on the office’s establishment or placement.

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3 Oct 2022

Research on Link between Mental Health and Variables such as Gender, Socio-economic Status and Race

Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Health whether more funding will be allocated to research on mental health and suicide, specifically examining how gender, socio-economic status, race, education, marital status, and income intersect to influence suicide risk.
Ong Ye Kung responded that mental health and suicide research is actively supported, citing examples like the Singapore Mental Health Study and the Inter-Agency Research Workgroup for Youth Suicides.
The Ministry of Health has designated mental health as a priority area in the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan and launched the $90 million Population Health Research Grant in July 2022, with mental health as a key theme.

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3 Oct 2022

Suicide and Deaths amongst Home Team Officers in Active Duty

Between January 2018 and September 2022, 74 Home Team officers passed away while in service, with the majority due to illnesses or natural causes, eight deaths ruled as suicide, and three other cases pending coronial investigations.
The Home Team provides mental health support including resilience training, in-house psychological services, peer support programmes, and confidential 24/7 helplines to assist officers in distress.
Supervisors are trained to identify and support officers needing help, and officers are not disadvantaged in their careers for seeking assistance, with promotions based on merit and performance.
External counselling services are available confidentially to all officers, and there is no tracking of help-seeking to encourage engagement without stigma.
Officers and auxiliary police undergo security and psychological vetting, and those assessed as unsuitable for firearms duties are redeployed to other roles while they recover.

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3 Oct 2022

Cost Benefits of Provision of Home Phlebotomy Services

Dr Tan Wu Meng queried the Ministry of Health about the role and availability of home phlebotomy services for mobile but stable patients in the community and potential cost and time savings for them and caregivers.
MOH stated that home phlebotomy is offered by select home medical and nursing providers, public healthcare clusters, and private labs, reducing travel needs for patients with mobility issues.
MOH does not track the specific transport or time savings for these patients and their caregivers.

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3 Oct 2022

Assistance for Hawkers to Meet Requirements for Nutri-Grade Mark for Freshly-prepared Drinks

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked when the Ministry of Health will clarify how sugar and fat levels will be measured for freshly prepared drinks and whether the government will support stallholders in promoting healthier drink options.
The Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board will implement mandatory Nutri-Grade labelling using nutrient databases instead of laboratory analysis and will provide industry guidance by end 2023.
The measures will initially apply only to larger establishments, with smaller stalls exempted at the start, and will be reviewed over time.
The government encourages participation in the Healthier Dining Programme, which offers support for developing healthier food and drink products.

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3 Oct 2022

Support for Home-based Persons with Motor Neurone Diseases

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health about support for home-based patients with Motor Neurone Disease, focusing on mobility challenges and home ventilator services.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary outlined a multi-disciplinary care team and transport options, including private ambulances and video consultations, with financial aid for those in need.
The National Neuroscience Institute offers home nursing care and community training, while the Home Ventilator and Respiratory Support Service provides home-based ventilation, caregiver training, and follow-up to reduce clinic visits.

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3 Oct 2022

Implications of Study on Excess Mortality During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Ministry of Health reported that Singapore's excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the lowest globally, with 24.9 excess deaths per 100,000 persons per year from January 2020 to June 2022, largely due to high vaccination rates and preventing healthcare system overload.
Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasized that vaccination significantly reduced severe illness and deaths, with unvaccinated individuals disproportionately contributing to COVID-19 fatalities, and highlighted the need for booster doses for better protection against variants.
The government is considering further studies on socioeconomic and housing impacts on excess mortality, as suggested by Dr Tan Wu Meng, and plans to shift to an annual vaccination model similar to influenza, focusing on booster rates and community outreach to increase vaccination among seniors and those with comorbidities.

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3 Oct 2022

Keeping Locum or Part-time Healthcare Professionals Up-to-date with Clinical Practices

The Ministry of Health emphasized that all healthcare professionals, including part-time and locum staff, must comply with professional and statutory requirements, including Continuing Professional Education to maintain competency and ensure patient safety.
Following a reported incident of undiluted COVID-19 vaccine administration, MOH outlined that vaccination providers must report errors within three hours, notify patients immediately, and conduct monitoring, with investigations underway for any regulatory breaches.
MOH is investigating the specific vaccine administration incident and will review processes to prevent recurrence, while noting that the vast majority of vaccinations have been administered safely nationwide.

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3 Oct 2022

Announcement by Speaker

The Speaker announced the easing of COVID-19 measures in Parliament, allowing all Members to be seated together without a split team arrangement and to take breaks in one room.
Members are still required to perform an Antigen Rapid Test before sitting days, and seats are reserved for close contacts who test negative.
The Speaker thanked Members for their adherence to measures since 2020, which enabled Parliament to function during the pandemic and return to normalcy.

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13 Sep 2022

Long-term Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines on Children and Removal of Vaccine-differentiated Measures in Medical Facilities

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked for data on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children among vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups and whether the HSA’s vaccine review includes long-term developmental risks for young children.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned if resource constraints at medical facilities still prevent full removal or illegality of vaccine-differentiated measures.
Mr Yip Hon Weng further inquired about updates on Novavax vaccine approval for children and plans for it as an mRNA alternative for young ages.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that all these questions were addressed in his earlier reply to questions from 13 September 2022.

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13 Sep 2022

Time Spent by Healthcare Professionals Communicating with Patients and Their Families

Dr. Tan Wu Meng asked if studies have been conducted on the time needed for effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients or families, and whether findings show an increased need for such time.
He also inquired whether contemporary manpower planning considers the role of effective communication in providing holistic, patient-centric care.
Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that no literature recommends an optimal communication duration, noting effectiveness varies by specialty, case complexity, and health literacy.
He added that manpower planning is primarily based on patient load and disease complexity rather than communication time.
The Minister emphasized that effective communication depends on individual circumstances rather than standardized time metrics.

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13 Sep 2022

Hiring of More Dedicated Administrative and Support Care Staff to Assist Nurses

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health about plans, numbers, and timelines for hiring more administrative and support staff to assist nurses.
Ong Ye Kung stated that staffing decisions are handled by healthcare clusters, not the ministry, which focuses on role redesign and training.
The ministry works with clusters to ensure healthcare jobs are meaningful, dignified, and support career growth for all staff.

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13 Sep 2022

Criteria for Caregivers of Mentally Disabled Persons to Qualify for Concessionary Levy or Grant

Murali Pillai proposed adjusting the criteria for caregiver concessionary levies to include persons assessed as significantly mentally impaired, regardless of their ability to perform Activities of Daily Living.
The current system grants concessions based on the need for assistance with at least one Activity of Daily Living, which can include cognitive impairments requiring supervision or assistance.
A person with cognitive impairment may still perform ADLs but need help or supervision, and can be assessed by a registered therapist to qualify for the levy concession.
Assessment is conducted using MSF’s Client Assessment Form at specific service providers, and the result can be submitted for eligibility.
The response indicates the existing framework already considers cognitive impairments, so adjustments may not be necessary if assessments appropriately capture mental impairment impacts.

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13 Sep 2022

Effect of Elevated PM2.5 Levels on Rail Workers' Health

Mr Melvin Yong questioned if elevated PM2.5 levels in underground train stations pose an occupational health hazard to rail workers and what mitigation plans exist.
Minister S Iswaran stated that while some stations exceed the 24-hour PM2.5 exposure limit during peak hours, the health risk to workers is low due to limited time spent on platforms.
The Ministry is upgrading air-conditioning systems and installing more efficient filters to trap finer particles like PM2.5, with completions targeted by 2025.

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13 Sep 2022

Service Standards for Non-emergency or Private Ambulance Services

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry imposes service standards, including waiting times, for non-emergency or private ambulance services.
Ong Ye Kung stated that non-emergency ambulance services are licensed under the Healthcare Services Act and must meet quality assurance standards for crew training, vehicle equipment, and price transparency.
Waiting times are not specifically required, but licensed providers must establish care protocols to ensure safe and timely patient conveyance.

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13 Sep 2022

Control over Number and Location of Tobacco Retail Licences Issued

Liang Eng Hwa asked the Ministry of Health for the number of tobacco retail licences issued in each of the past five years and the control framework for limiting their number and location to reduce smoking prevalence.
Ong Ye Kung provided a table showing the exact number of tobacco retail licences granted over the past five years.
He explained that under the 2017 regulations, tobacco retailers cannot be located near unsuitable places like healthcare institutions, pharmacies, schools, childcare centres, and gaming centres.

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13 Sep 2022

Coverage of New Subsidy Framework for Standard Drugs List and Drug Affordability

The new subsidy framework for the Standard Drugs List (SDL) will raise subsidies to 75% for Singaporeans with a Per Capita Household Income (PCHI) up to $2,000, effective from 1 November 2022, while those with higher incomes continue to receive 50% subsidies.
Government expenditure on SDL subsidies is expected to increase by about 7% to over $120 million per year as a result of these changes.
The Ministry is enhancing affordability through increased subsidies under the Medication Assistance Fund for eligible residents and by managing drug procurement costs via centralised purchasing and negotiations to secure better prices.

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13 Sep 2022

Mental Health Support for Singapore’s Athletes during Training and in Run-up to Competitions

The Singapore Sports Institute and National Youth Sports Institute provide holistic mental health support through dedicated sport psychologists and Athlete Life personnel, offering one-on-one consults and psycho-education, especially ahead of major competitions like the SEA, Commonwealth, and ASEAN Para Games, using tools such as the Fitness and Freshness Survey.
SSI proactively monitors athletes' mental health by integrating a well-being survey into regular medical check-ups since 2020, screening for issues like eating and sleeping disorders, and referring cases to the Singapore Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre for clinical follow-up when needed.
SSI and NYSI partner with coaches and National Sports Associations to enhance mental resilience by providing training to recognise symptoms and practise self-care, with programmes like mental health literacy and Psychological First Aid courses for staff.
Efforts to raise awareness include launching infographics on mental health for athletes during World Mental Health Day to make information accessible, alongside ongoing encouragement from Singaporeans to support athletes throughout their sporting journeys.

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