Health — Topics | PAPERCUTS

1 Nov 2021

Review of Conditions in Migrant Worker Dormitories following Incident at Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory

Multiple MPs questioned the Ministry of Manpower about the causes of unrest and poor conditions at the Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory, including slow response times, food quality issues, and inadequate medical support.
The Senior Minister of State explained that the incident was due to a surge in COVID-19 cases overwhelming the dormitory operator and ACE teams, leading to delays in conveying infected workers, and acknowledged shortcomings by all parties including the employer and operator.
The Ministry outlined new recovery protocols, such as Dormitory and Centralised Recovery Facilities, and stated that investigations are ongoing, with actions to be taken against any parties found negligent, while also enhancing feedback channels and community support for workers.

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1 Nov 2021

Updated COVID-19 Healthcare and Treatment Protocols and Measures to Ensure Adequate Rest and Leave for Healthcare Professionals

Ministers responded to multiple parliamentary questions about COVID-19 healthcare protocols, focusing on the well-being of healthcare workers, the impact on patients with severe conditions, and strategies to reduce serious cases and deaths.
Concerns were raised about healthcare employers potentially penalizing medical leave, high accumulated annual leave for staff, and the need for mandated mental well-being days amid prolonged pandemic pressures.
Questions addressed the proportion of severe COVID-19 patients recovering or facing long-term effects, with breakdowns by vaccination status, and the underlying conditions linked to fatalities.
The debate highlighted the importance of tracking and protecting healthcare workers' physical and psychological well-being, including work hours, leave cancellations, and manpower crunches.
Ministers indicated plans to provide a consolidated response via a ministerial statement, addressing all ten questions on updated protocols, patient outcomes, and staff support measures.

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5 Oct 2021

Update on Pilot Scheme Allowing Eligible Migrant Workers Living in Dormitories to Visit Little India

Leon Perera asked about the KPIs, timeline, and other locations for expanding the pilot scheme to allow migrant workers in dormitories to visit Little India, and whether it could be accelerated given existing safeguards.
The Minister for Manpower explained the pilot allows 500 workers weekly to visit the community to balance well-being and infection risks, with lessons being drawn for safe expansion.
The Ministry is considering ways to broaden the appeal of the visits to more migrant workers and is committed to easing movement restrictions gradually.

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5 Oct 2021

Number of Point-to-point Drivers and Riders Placed on Quarantine Order, Health Risk Alert and Health Risk Warning and Provided with Allowance

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked for the number of point-to-point drivers and riders placed on Quarantine Orders, Health Risk Alerts, and Health Risk Warnings, and how many received allowances.
She also asked if the Ministry would consider extending Quarantine Order allowances to self-employed persons on Health Risk Warnings who are required to self-isolate.
Minister Ong Ye Kung referred to a prior oral reply on 4 October 2021, which addressed these questions as part of updates on COVID-19 measures.

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5 Oct 2021

Manpower and Infrastructure Plans to Ensure Sufficient Healthcare Support for Elderly

The Ministry of Health is strengthening community support for seniors to enable ageing-in-place through enhanced eldercare centres and community care services.
Over 4,600 day care and 3,100 home care places have been added since 2015, with plans to onboard more than 200 eldercare centres by 2024.
Infrastructure expansions include 10 primary care networks involving over 600 GP clinics and a target of 32 polyclinics by 2030, some co-located with eldercare services.
Manpower efforts focus on raising salary competitiveness and career progression opportunities for the community care workforce.
The eldercare centres will promote active ageing, befriending, and care services for seniors in the community.

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5 Oct 2021

Proposal to Establish Portal to Make Available COVID-19-related Public Health Data for Scrutiny and Analysis

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the Ministry of Health would establish a portal to make available COVID-19-related public health data for scrutiny and analysis as Singapore moves to "living with COVID" and reduces routine data publication.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the question was addressed in a prior oral reply on 4 October 2021, referencing an update on government decisions and protocols as Singapore transitions to the endemic stage.
The response points to official reports detailing measures for quarantine orders and support for vulnerable groups, indicating that the matter has been considered within broader policy announcements.

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5 Oct 2021

Number of Summonses Issued for Not Wearing Face Masks or Not Maintaining Sufficient Safe Distances while Smoking and Enforcement Approach Towards Unmasked Smokers

Gerald Giam asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the number of individuals summoned by NEA in the past year for not wearing face masks or maintaining safe distances while smoking, and the enforcement approach toward unmasked smokers in public areas, including groups of five or less.
Grace Fu responded that the government does not record or track the specific activities individuals were engaged in, such as smoking, when taking enforcement action for violations of safe management measures.
The debate highlights a gap in data collection regarding smoking-related violations of safe distancing and mask-wearing rules.
It also underscores the need for clarity on how enforcement is applied to unmasked smokers in public spaces, including small group gatherings.
The response suggests that smoking is not a tracked factor in enforcement actions for safe management violations.

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5 Oct 2021

Number of Deaths by Suicides Recorded for Women Who Were Pregnant or Had Given Birth

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of suicide deaths among women who were pregnant or had given birth in the past year.
The Minister provided data on suicide deaths of women who had given birth in the year prior to death from 2016 to 2020.
The government does not have data on suicide deaths of women who were pregnant at the time of death.

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5 Oct 2021

Frequency of Rostered Routine Testing for Workers Differentiated based on COVID-19 Vaccination Status

Abdul Samad questioned whether the frequency of Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) could be differentiated based on workers’ vaccination status.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that a vaccination-differentiated RRT regime is already in place for certain sectors, with unvaccinated workers tested more frequently than vaccinated ones.
The current approach includes weekly testing for vaccinated workers and additional tests for unvaccinated workers, guided by MOH’s “Vaccinate or Regular Test” framework.
The government will continue reviewing and potentially refining testing requirements based on evolving scientific evidence and the pandemic situation.
Employers and workers are acknowledged for their efforts in adhering to the testing regime to support Singapore’s transition to a COVID-19-resilient nation.

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5 Oct 2021

Data on Efficacy of Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children aged five to 11

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Health Minister if the Health Sciences Authority had received Pfizer’s recent data on the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy for children aged five to 11 and whether the government would share its views on the findings.
Ong Ye Kung replied that the question was already addressed in an oral reply to Questions 1 to 20 on the Order Paper for 4 October 2021.
He directed attention to the Official Report of 4 October 2021, which includes updates on government decisions and measures as Singapore moves into an endemic stage of COVID-19.
The referenced oral answers also cover updated protocols for quarantine orders and support measures for vulnerable groups, including the young and elderly.

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5 Oct 2021

Guidelines for Home Recovery Programme for COVID-19-positive Individuals

Miss Cheng Li Hui asked for details on the number of individuals in the Home Recovery Programme, guidelines provided, how they are communicated, frequency of health monitoring, and key milestones in the process.
Minister Ong Ye Kung referred to a previous oral reply on 4 October 2021 that addressed these questions, pointing to official reports on COVID-19 protocols and support measures.
The response did not provide specific numbers or guidelines but indicated that the information was already available in earlier parliamentary records.

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5 Oct 2021

Update on Roll-out of and Adverse Reactions from COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Programme

The debate centered on Darryl David’s request for an update on Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccine booster rollout and any reported adverse reactions.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the query had already been addressed in a prior oral reply on 4 October 2021.
The relevant official report covered government decisions as Singapore moved toward an endemic COVID-19 stage and updated quarantine protocols.
No new information on booster programme progress or adverse reactions was provided in this exchange.
The exchange highlighted that parliamentary queries may be pre-emptively answered in earlier official proceedings.

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5 Oct 2021

Breakdown of Post-partum Depression Cases Over Last 10 Years

The Ministry of Health reported a gradual decline in post-partum depression cases at public hospitals from 421 in 2011 to 362 in 2020, with about one in five affected mothers requiring financial assistance, a proportion that has remained consistent.
Data from NUH indicates that the socio-economic segments of mothers with post-partum depression have shown relative stability in terms of financial assistance needs over the past decade.
The GUSTO study is an ongoing longitudinal investigation into the link between maternal emotional health, such as post-partum depression, and the child’s health and development in later years.
The Government is considering conducting additional longitudinal studies on post-partum depression if further evidence is needed, though no new studies were explicitly promised in the response.

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5 Oct 2021

Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide

Carrie Tan inquired about current protocols for prescribing antidepressants to youths under 25 and called for a review of intervention pathways due to concerns over a correlation between antidepressant use and youth suicide.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that primary care doctors conduct clinical assessments to determine diagnosis and severity, with treatment or referral recommendations based on these assessments.
He noted that clinical practice guidelines from the professional community guide doctors on prescribing, weighing risks and benefits, and that complaints about inappropriate prescriptions can be investigated by MOH or the Singapore Medical Council.

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5 Oct 2021

Update on Work and Plans of Inter-agency Task Force on Mental Wellness

Dr Shahira Abdullah asked whether a national suicide prevention strategy would be part of the mental well-being strategy and if the task force would become a permanent coordinating office.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed the task force will develop a comprehensive strategy including suicide prevention and coordinate whole-of-government efforts on mental health.
The task force, convened in July 2021, will propose recommendations to be translated into policies and practices, with an update to follow when ready.

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5 Oct 2021

Sufficiency of Number of Practising Psychiatrists and Psychologists in Singapore

He Ting Ru asked whether the number of practising psychiatrists and psychologists in Singapore is sufficient, what is being done to increase their numbers, and what measures are in place to address burnout among mental health practitioners.
As of end-2020, there were 2,631 psychiatrists (4.6 per 100,000 population) and 5,512 psychologists (9.7 per 100,000 population) in Singapore, with no international consensus on optimal ratios.
The Ministry of Health will continue working with stakeholders to assess needs and monitor mental health professionals to ensure appropriate access and quality of services.
Healthcare workers, including mental health practitioners, face significant stress and burnout risks; public institutions have increased support through counselling, helplines, and peer support programmes.

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5 Oct 2021

Mental and Emotional Well-being Support for Singapore Athletes Before and After Major Sports Competitions

The Government provides mental and emotional wellness support through the Singapore Sport Institute and National Youth Sports Institute, including one-on-one consultations, psychological skills training, and tailored tools like a travel essentials kit for major competitions.
Post-competition debriefs are conducted to help athletes process outcomes, check mental well-being, and plan future milestones or transitions, with additional programs like mental health literacy for coaches and well-being surveys during medical check-ups.
Athletes receive ongoing support through partnerships with National Sport Associations to build resilience and self-care, reinforced by public encouragement and solidarity from Singaporeans, which boosts their overall well-being.

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5 Oct 2021

Training More Healthcare Personnel to Look After Dementia Patients with Ageing Population

MOH is implementing a multi-pronged approach to enhance dementia care by increasing care capacity and capability in hospitals and the community, while also raising awareness and supporting caregivers.
Dementia shared care teams have been established in public hospitals to train and support primary and community care providers, including through a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health for General Practitioners.
Specialist care capacity has been expanded with more outpatient Memory Clinic services and new inpatient services for behavioural symptoms in hospitals.
Community outreach and intervention teams, along with Dementia-Friendly Communities and more daycare places, are being rolled out to support patients and caregivers.
New government-built nursing homes incorporate dementia-friendly designs to improve care quality for residents requiring residential care.

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5 Oct 2021

Preparations to Train and Build Up Pool of Informal Caregivers Given Anticipated Demand as Population Ages

Carrie Tan asked for projections on the growing need for informal caregivers over the next 10 to 20 years and how the government plans to support and build up care worker capacity to ease the caregiving burden on families.
Ong Ye Kung noted that 119,000 residents are currently out of the workforce due to family care duties, and by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above, increasing caregiving demands.
The government is expanding care services by adding thousands of day and home care places since 2015, piloting new respite care options, and reviewing grants like the Home Caregiving Grant to provide targeted support.
To ensure sufficient and qualified manpower, the Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care are assisting providers with recruitment, branding, salary enhancements, and training grants to build capabilities in the care sector.

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5 Oct 2021

Current Occupancy Rates at Hospices and Adequacy of Hospice Capacity Given Ageing Population

The Minister reported 255 inpatient palliative care beds, with 155 in hospices and 100 in community hospitals, and an occupancy rate of about 70% over the past year.
The government plans to ensure sufficient inpatient and home palliative care capacity to meet future demand from an ageing population, while raising awareness that palliative care can be provided at home.
Efforts to attract, train, and retain hospice care professionals include making the sector more attractive, offering competitive remuneration, and providing training and productivity grants to build capabilities.

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