Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

11 Mar 2022

Details of SAF's COVID-19 Rapid Containment Plans at Military Camps and Their Effectiveness

The SAF implements COVID-19 measures aligned with national guidelines, including high vaccination and booster rates, regular testing, safe management practices, and immediate isolation of positive cases.
When a service member tests positive in camp, they are sent home; those sick or positive outside cannot return until recovered, and close contacts follow MOH’s Health Risk Notice protocol.
Infection numbers in SAF camps have generally tracked community trends, with limited internal transmission and mostly mild or no symptoms, though the SAF remains vigilant and ready to adjust measures.

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11 Mar 2022

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill

The government proposed extending the validity of Part 7 of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act for an additional year to maintain the legal authority for targeted public health measures, allowing a nimble response to evolving pandemic situations and potential new variants.
During the debate, MPs Yip Hon Weng and Sylvia Lim supported the extension but called for more specific, streamlined measures and clearer end goals, expressing concern about the indefinite nature of restrictions and their impact on businesses and social well-being.
The government emphasized that vaccination remains key to reducing severe illness and healthcare strain, with non-mRNA vaccines like Novavax becoming available to address hesitancy, and that Safe Management Measures will be simplified and eased as the situation improves.

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10 Mar 2022

Data on Increase in Daily Volume of Patient Visits to Polyclinics and Public Health Preparedness Clinics from Surge of COVID-19 Infections

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Ministry of Health for data on the increase in daily patient visits to polyclinics and Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) due to the surge in COVID-19 infections, expected volumes for the next three months, and relief for manpower shortages.
Minister Ong Ye Kung reported a 140% rise in daily average attendances for Acute Respiratory Infection at PHPCs and polyclinics from 9,100 in January 2022 to 21,810 in February 2022, noting cases are expected to fall as the Omicron wave wanes.
The Ministry supports primary care through grants, test centres for infection certification, and encourages those with mild symptoms to recover at home to alleviate pressure on clinics.

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10 Mar 2022

Average Waiting Time for Enrolment of Newly Diagnosed Special Needs Children in Government-funded Early Intervention Programme

The average waiting time for enrolment in Government-funded Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) has increased from six months in 2020 to seven months currently, due to higher hospital referrals and COVID-19 impact.
Waiting times vary across centres and regions, while the Enhanced Pilot for Private Intervention Providers (PPIP) programme has wait times ranging from four to twelve months.
Out-of-pocket expenses under PPIP are generally higher than EIPIC, with middle-income families paying about $200 more per month after subsidies, and support is available through the Mediacorp Enable Fund for needy families.

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10 Mar 2022

Central Pool of Relief Manpower under Early Childhood Development Agency to Provide Help to Preschools Affected by Rise in COVID-19 Infections

Ms Ng Ling Ling raised concerns about a central relief manpower pool under ECDA to support preschools affected by rising COVID-19 cases and asked about monitoring teachers' mental wellness amid increased workload.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli outlined ECDA's measures, including flexible staff deployment across classes and preschools, relaxed regulatory requirements during staff shortages, and streamlined contact tracing processes to aid operations.
The government directed preschools to source relief staff via platforms like EzMart or HR agencies, and encouraged monitoring staff well-being through rest breaks, workload rotation, and support from the Health Promotion Board.
Appreciation initiatives like care packs and wellness workshops were provided to preschool staff, and parents were urged to support efforts by keeping unwell children home and vaccinating eligible children.

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10 Mar 2022

Systematic Tracking of Time Between Prison Inmate Lodging Medical Complaint and Receiving Medical Attention

Leon Perera inquired whether the Ministry systematically tracks the time between inmates lodging a medical complaint and receiving attention, as well as for emergencies, and what procedures ensure prompt medical care.
K Shanmugam explained that the Singapore Prison Service collaborates with medical providers, offering daily in-house clinics on weekdays and on-call staff after hours and on weekends, with inmates able to alert officers anytime for referral.
He noted that prison officers are trained to provide first aid while awaiting medical personnel and that inmates can raise issues with officers about medical help.
The Singapore Prison Service tracks the medical service provider's response time specifically for medical emergencies.

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10 Mar 2022

Improving Sick Bay Facilities in Preschools to Allow Them to Safe-keep Sick Children Until End of School Day

Louis Ng asked if the Ministry would support improving preschool sick bay facilities to keep sick children until the end of the school day.
The Ministry highlighted that current regulations require designated sick bays, which serve as temporary isolation areas while parents are notified to pick up children promptly.
Prolonged stays in sick bays may affect a child's comfort and well-being, require extra staff monitoring, and could compromise care for other children.
The Ministry noted that preschool staff lack medical training for prolonged care and emphasized that parents should collect sick children for proper medical attention.
The Ministry acknowledged challenges faced by working parents and mentioned existing childcare leave and family-friendly measures to support them.

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10 Mar 2022

Expected Hospital Bed Occupancy Rates over Next Five Years

The Ministry of Health models that the annual average public hospital bed occupancy rate will be around 80% over the next five years.
A sustained occupancy rate below 85% is recommended to ensure patient safety and sufficient capacity for sudden demand spikes, such as during pandemics.
Contingency plans exist and have been activated, including patient flow management, telehealth, and care re-siting, to mitigate risks when occupancy approaches or breaches the 85% threshold.

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10 Mar 2022

Strengthening Singaporean Core in Nursing Profession

Leon Perera asked if the government would review the total compensation for Singaporean nurses to align it with wages in developed countries.
The Senior Minister of State for Health responded that salaries are set based on local market conditions, with periodic reviews to ensure competitiveness.
In 2021, public healthcare nursing salaries were enhanced by 5% to 14% over two years, with further support for the community care sector.
Nurses also receive an annual Nurse Special Payment, which is reviewed yearly to keep nursing pay attractive.
The government aims to ensure nursing remains a viable career for Singaporeans through competitive salaries and non-monetary measures.

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9 Mar 2022

Penalties on Employers for Failure to Comply with Advisory on Work and Leave Arrangements for COVID-19-positive Employees

Louis Ng asked about penalties for employers who violate the advisory on work and leave for mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19-positive employees, and what remedies affected employees have.
Tripartite advisories are issued to guide fair employment practices, and employers are expected to follow them; deviations may prompt employee complaints to MOM.
MOM will verify facts, advise employers to comply, and has not yet encountered any employer who willfully refuses after being informed.
If an employer persists in non-compliance, MOM will suspend their work pass privileges as a penalty.
Employees who face issues can approach MOM for assistance and resolution.

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9 Mar 2022

Committee of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health)

Multiple MPs called for stronger primary care and better coordination for an ageing population with chronic diseases, highlighting the heavy burden of frequent clinic visits and the need for GPs to play a greater role in preventive and long-term care.
Discussions focused on the well-being and support of healthcare workers, including better remuneration, work-hour reviews, protection from abuse, and improved conditions for junior doctors, nurses, and outsourced staff.
Ministers announced the Healthier SG strategy to shift focus to preventive healthcare, enrolling residents with family doctors for care plans, and integrating community partnerships, with details to be refined through public consultation and a White Paper.

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9 Mar 2022

Applications to Import Embryos Back to Singapore for Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures

Mr Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health for statistics on applications to import embryos back to Singapore for assisted reproductive technology in the past two years, including the number of successful and unsuccessful applications and reasons for rejections.
The Ministry reported receiving 62 such applications since June 2021, with 59 approved and three rejected due to not meeting regulatory requirements, such as exceeding the allowed donor age limit.
In response to a clarification request, the Ministry stated that the rejection rate was not high and that it had developed a standardised online application form based on a previous suggestion to streamline the process and reduce stress for couples.

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8 Mar 2022

Numbers of Work Permit Holders Living in Dormitories and Non-dormitories Who Attempted and Committed Suicide in Each of Past 10 Years

The Ministry of Manpower reported that the suicide rate for Work Permit Holders was consistently lower than the general population over the past ten years, with an average of 4.2 per 100,000 compared to 8.7 per 100,000 for the general population.
The Minister outlined that suicide rates among Migrant Workers were higher in 2020 and 2021 but remained below those of the general population, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since November 2020, the government has implemented a seven-point strategy under Project DAWN to improve mental health literacy and early identification of at-risk individuals among migrant workers.
A key initiative involves training peer support leaders among migrant workers to provide psychological first aid and timely support to colleagues and friends.
The Minister emphasized that MOM will continue to closely monitor and support the mental health of all workers.

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8 Mar 2022

Reduce Unnecessary Packaging in ART Kits Given Their Extensive Use

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health to consider working with ART kit manufacturers to reduce and streamline unnecessary packaging given the rapid increase in self-testing use.
Ong Ye Kung explained that manufacturers currently pack components individually to minimise contamination and leakage risks.
MOH will collaborate with MSE to encourage manufacturers to reduce ART packaging and adopt more environmentally sustainable options where feasible.

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8 Mar 2022

Ban on Trans Fat in Foods Sold in Singapore

Leon Perera asked the Ministry for Health whether it has studied the impact of a potential ban on all types of trans fat and for an update on the implementation of the ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) effective June 2021.
Ong Ye Kung explained that natural trans fat in dairy and red meats cannot be removed, while artificial trans fat mainly comes from PHOs in snacks and spreads, which Singapore has tackled through trans fat limits since 2013 and a PHO ban since 2021.
Since the PHO ban took effect, high-risk products have been reformulated to be PHO-free, with no non-compliance detected in surveillance, and monitoring of Singaporeans’ trans fat intake will continue.

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8 Mar 2022

Seniors Requiring Mental Health Intervention Given Social Isolation in Last Two Years Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Minister noted that MOH does not track mental health interventions by age band for adults, but surveys show a decrease in poor mental health among seniors aged 60–74 from 11.4% in 2017 to 9.4% in 2020, with ongoing studies to better understand their needs.
The government has focused on increasing mental health literacy and community outreach, with teams providing information or assistance to over 128,000 people in the past two years, rather than pursuing mass screening due to inconclusive evidence on its benefits.
Eldercare Centres and the Silver Generation Office proactively reach out to vulnerable seniors with limited social support, referring them to appropriate services such as befriending and mental health support.
MOH continues to collaborate with partners to develop community resources and capabilities to support the mental health and well-being of seniors.

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7 Mar 2022

Withdrawal of Reservation to Article 25(e) of UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about Singapore's intention to withdraw its reservation to Article 25(e) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees non-discriminatory health access for persons with disabilities, and the timeline for doing so.
The Minister affirmed Singapore's support for non-discriminatory treatment towards persons with disabilities and highlighted that the Monetary Authority of Singapore is developing guidelines on fair practices for all customers, including those with disabilities.
Public consultations on the guidelines are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2022.
Following the issuance of these guidelines, Singapore intends to withdraw its reservation to Article 25(e).

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7 Mar 2022

Monitoring of Manpower Policies in Hospitals with Respect To Rest and Leave Days of Nurses and Doctors

Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health (MOH) about monitoring hospital manpower policies for compliance with the Employment Act, whether the Omicron wave allows exceeding work hour limits, and how MOH ensures nurses and doctors have sufficient rest.
Dr Koh Poh Koon stated that rest day and work hour rules are governed by the Employment Act or cluster contracts, noted the heavy burden on healthcare workers during COVID-19, and said employers pay overtime for essential work while encouraging staff to take leave and reduce non-urgent care.
Louis Ng inquired about specific overtime hours for nurses and doctors over the pandemic, the resignation rate among experienced healthcare workers, and retention efforts.
Dr Koh acknowledged the crisis and extended hours, noting that MOH will provide a fuller response on supporting staff and boosting manpower at the upcoming Committee of Supply.

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7 Mar 2022

Guidelines and Autonomy Given on Disbursement Amounts for MediFund Applications

MediFund Committees have full discretion to assess and approve applications, using MOH-provided operational guidelines as non-binding benchmarks that consider socio-economic and health circumstances, bill sizes, and means testing criteria.
MOH ensures consistency through annual audits of MediFund accounts and administration by the Auditor-General’s Office or an external auditor, alongside automatic MediFund assistance for patients already receiving other social assistance schemes.
Outcomes show high approval rates, with 98.3% of applications approved and 87.6% of approved cases receiving full assistance in FY2020, indicating effective support despite committee discretion.

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7 Mar 2022

Support for Preschools Grappling with COVID-19 Rules and Manpower Shortage Given Rise in Cases

Ms Hany Soh asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development about support for preschools facing COVID-19 rules and manpower shortages due to rising cases.
The Ministry replied that ECDA regularly updates measures, provides funding for safe management, streamlines contact tracing, and allows flexible staff deployment to maintain operations.
Ms Soh further inquired about additional ART kits and concerns over sanitation compliance amid manpower issues, to which the Ministry responded by considering ART kit support and explaining the balance between operational flexibility and safety measures.

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