Ong Ye Kung
Singapore
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) recently enhanced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) dental subsidies, which are tiered by income, for common preventive and restorative procedures.”
“Healthier SG GP clinics may also refer their enrolled patients to Active Ageing Centres and Community Health Posts to fulfill their social prescriptions and for subsidised services, such as medication management.”
“Public hospitals, such as the National University Hospital, the Singapore General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, have deployed robotic-assisted surgical (RAS) systems for minimally invasive soft-tissue surgeries.”
“The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) welcomes drug producers to choose Singapore as part of their first-wave filings. As long as a pharmaceutical product is approved by at least one regulatory agency, such as China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), it would also qualify for the abridged route.”
“A decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with diabetes can be due to multiple reasons. Doctors will first investigate the underlying cause before determining whether the patient should be referred to a specialist. Some causes are reversible and cause transient reduction in renal function.”
“Information on the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) cannot be made visible on the National Electronic Health Record system as it is protected under the Mental Capacity Act. Such information may only be disclosed by the Public Guardian to specified persons upon satisfactory submission of evidence(s) required under the law.”
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“In the last five years, public healthcare institutions saw an average of 248 postpartum depression cases. Among these patients, there was an average of less than one suicide each year. Programmes for early detection and management of postpartum depression are available in polyclinics and public hospitals.”
“Section 8(3)(ba) of the Immigration Act safeguards public health and protects our residents against the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Regulation 12 of the Immigration Regulations allows foreigners living with HIV to enter Singapore as short-term visitors but restricts long-term stay for these individuals. With new scientific advancements, the Ministry of Health periodically reviews HIV-related policies and legislation to ensure that they remain relevant.”
“Over the past three years, arising from the ramp up of our enforcement efforts by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) together with the Ministry of Education, the number of students from schools and Institutes of Higher Learning reported to HSA for possessing or using e-vaporisers rose from about 800 cases in 2022 to 900 cases in 2023 and 2,000 cases in 2024. Among the cases in 2024, 13% reoffended in the same year. HSA and the Ministry of Health are reviewing the penalties for possession or use of e-vaporisers. Concurrently, the Health Promotion Board will ramp up its initiatives to educate and counsel youths and students on the benefits of a nicotine-free lifestyle, as well as vaping cessation programmes.”
“Our assessment is that nurses in Singapore's public healthcare sector earn salaries that are similar to those of nurses working in countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. This is after adjusting for tax, because workers pay significantly higher income taxes in Australia and New Zealand. The introduction of the long-term retention scheme Award for Nurses' Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (ANGEL) for nurses in 2024 and upcoming salary enhancements announced in January 2025, will further enhance the total pay package for nurses in the public healthcare sector. Nurses who choose to leave Singapore tend to be foreign nurses who have worked here for some years. The reasons are often varied, including personal considerations, and not solely based on salaries. The ultimate test of Singapore's ability to retain nurses is the attrition rate. This has gone back to single digit, which is normal. To be an attractive work destination for nurses, we need to provide good opportunities for training and development, the profession must be well-respected and appreciated by society and nurses must be able to balance their work and personal commitments.”
“HealthHub is our national health app that serves as the primary platform that is leveraged by the cluster apps for common patient-facing services across all public healthcare clusters and participating private healthcare entities, such as making appointments and accessing health records. Its annual operating cost is about $18 million, which also accounts for the shared infrastructure of HealthHub and the three cluster apps. The three healthcare clusters maintain their own apps, Health Buddy, NHG Cares App and NUHS App respectively, that offer features customised to their specific facilities and services. These cluster-specific apps collectively add about $3.6 million, or 20% more, in annual operating costs.”
“There has been no advice to medical professionals at polyclinics to stop issuing memos declaring an individual's unfitness for work. Medical certificates and memos certifying unfitness to work continued to be issued at the discretion of the doctor, based on a clinical assessment of the patient.”
“Medical certificates (MCs) are issued to patients on medical grounds when they are unwell or unfit for work or school, to allow them to rest and recuperate. In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments are medically invasive and women are issued MCs for them to take time off work to attend the treatments and get proper rest after. MCs may be issued to husbands if they undergo IVF-related tests or procedures themselves. This position remains unchanged since the last time the answer was provided for the Sitting on 26 February 2021. [Please refer to "Provision of Medical Certificates to Husbands Accompanying Wives for In-vitro Fertilisation Treatments at Public Hospital", Official Report, 26 February 2021, Vol 95, Issue 21, Written Answers to Questions section.] Doctors may provide memos to the couple certifying that their patient (the wife) has received IVF treatment. Husbands may share the memo with their employers, who may recognise the importance of spousal support by allowing time-off or providing flexible work arrangements.”
“The number of smuggling cases involving e-vaporisers has dropped from 152 cases in 2022 to 67 in 2024. E-vaporisers are legal in our neighboring countries, hence the scope for cross-border collaboration on enforcement is more limited. The Health Sciences Authority will continue to work closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to step up our enforcement checks to detect and deter the smuggling of e-vaporisers into Singapore at the checkpoints to disrupt the supply chain.”
“This question has been addressed in the oral reply to Question No 72 at the 4 February 2025 Sitting. [Please refer to "Use of MediSave for Shingles Vaccination", Official Report, 4 February 2025, Vol 95, Issue 150, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“This question has been addressed in the oral reply to Question No 9 in today's Order Paper. [Please refer to "Preventing Cross-border Transmission of HMPV from Becoming Public Health Concern in Singapore", Official Report, 5 February 2025, Vol 95, Issue 151, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“The process to make an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) can be a barrier. This is because an AMD is a legal document for a patient to inform the doctor that he does not want to use any life-sustaining treatment to prolong his life in the event that he is terminally ill, unconscious or requires life-sustaining treatment. It must, therefore, be taken very seriously. Hence, individuals need to complete a form in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must be a doctor. These are necessary safeguards that may have contributed to the complexity of the AMD process but are designed to protect the interests of individuals who make an AMD. In the absence of AMD, doctors may also recommend the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment to family members if this is deemed to be in the patient's best interest. In arriving at this recommendation, the doctor would have taken into account the patient's clinical conditions, possible care pathways and healthcare preferences, if any. The family's decision to accept or reject the doctor's recommendation will be greatly facilitated if the patient has made an Advance Care Plan (ACP) and/or has appointed a donee to make medical care decisions under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Both ACP and LPA are much easier to set up than an AMD. With growing public awareness and discourse on end-of-life planning, the annual uptake of AMD has increased, from 3,000 in 2015 to over 8,000 in 2024.”
“The Member is calling for more centralisation of decision-making for certain patients, with regard to their treatment plans and financial support. This will however not be optimal. Indeed, doctors have different opinions when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. However, it is generally in the interest of the patient for such decisions to made as close to the bedside as possible, instead of relying on a panel or body of experts residing at the hospital or cluster level. As for financial support, policies relating to subsidies, MediSave and MediShield Life are determined centrally by the Ministry of Health. However, when it comes to additional financial support to individual patients, such as MediFund, these will be assessed on a case-by-case basis at the level of the healthcare institution, taking into consideration factors, such as the nature and duration of the treatment, the cost and the family's financial situation. Each public healthcare institution has a MediFund Committee, with full discretion to assess and approve applications. This decentralised approach enables the Committees to exercise flexibility and be quick and responsive to those who need the help the most.”
“Ultimately, parents need practical step-by-step guidelines for them to improve their parenting skills.”
“The second question first. We will continue to monitor the evidence. I think there are local studies and international studies on the impact of life habits on children. As and when we see new findings, we will update the guidelines from time to time. But essentially, we are taking an evidence-based approach to Grow Well SG. As for tailored support systems, indeed, I think there needs to be more support for parents. I do know there is a range of practices on the ground in every home. There are children; while these are guidelines; children who exceed or do not exceed the guidelines, there is a range of impact on them. So, it is a very diverse space. But I think, as agencies with all the expertise in education and in clinical science, we have a duty when we know something is happening, because of digitalisation of childhood and we see the evidence, I think we have a duty to put out the information and recommend guidelines to parents and to schools, so that we can bring up our children better. I was saying over Chinese New Year, I met so many parents with so many children and when they see me, they will tell their children, "This is the uncle who prevents you from using screen time. Go and talk to him." So, I get an earful of that! Many parents are indeed struggling a bit. They know they need to wean the kid off, especially during meal times; they wonder how. So, we will discuss with MSF. There are online resources. I think we need to improve them. MOH, MOE and MSF will continue to discuss this. This is a policy platform. We launched this, but this is not the end. I think this is the start. From here, we do need to develop this further, including the online resources. So, what Mr Yip Hon Weng has asked for, I think this is something we will have to work on.”
“HPB has about a hundred dedicated staff, mostly trained nurses and lifestyle coaches, who are dedicated to engaging the schools and they have been doing so for some years. So, it is a dedicated piece of work. They work very hard, but I think with Grow Well SG, there is a shift in orientation, and also, to build in a system of developing health plans for children. So, the activities do not change. For years they have been going down to school doing health screening, talking to the kids about lifestyle habits, but now, we deliberately develop a Health Plan for children with clearer guidelines, especially on screen time and then through the school, engage the parents. So, it very much involves a change in the way we do things and make it more systemised and hopefully more effective. As to whether it adds more work, more stress, maybe it does to some extent, but I think the staff actually are very motivated and very excited by this. They see this as a potential breakthrough and I think if there is more work, they are quite willing to work harder for this, because the outcome and the meaning is now deeper.”
“All these are important resources in support for parents, who know they are the ultimate educator and guardian for their children.”
“I hope they leverage these groups to share practices and provide support to each other. Compare less about how much tuition they have for their children, compare more about parenting tips and how to wean their children off excessive device time. I believe the lifelong impact of healthy habits from young is more profound than the academic benefits of enrichment classes and tuition. As the implementation of the Health Plan largely taps on MOE and HPB's existing processes, we are not deploying additional manpower. That said, it changes the way they do things, with a stronger focus on preventive care for children, and involving parents to develop and follow up on health plans. Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about monitoring results. The annual Lifestyle Questionnaire provided to parents as part of the Health Plans, will contain self-reported data on lifestyle habits of their children. Through the results, we will see if Grow Well SG is gradually shifting the health habits, including screen time, of our young. It takes a village to raise a child. Building healthy habits in our children is a long-term and whole-of-society endeavour. Under Grow Well SG, the Ministry of Health (MOH) provides updated health advisories and timely resources; our schools provide the most appropriate platform to educate children and parents about health habits; HPB supports the schools in developing health plans for children; its Healthy 365 app offers healthy lifestyle programmes for children, which are good alternatives to screen time, and Parenting for Wellness toolbox by MOE, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and HPB includes resources on topics, such as managing screen use.”
“Besides leveraging mass media, the health guidelines including screen time for children, will be conveyed to parents via the annual health screening programme in mainstream schools to prepare children's health plans. Information is also available through Ministry of Education's (MOE's) Parents Gateway. The annual screening starts with parents of Primary 1 to 3 students pre-filling a Lifestyle Questionnaire to reflect on their child's current lifestyle habits. During the school health screening, trained nurses and lifestyle coaches from the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will engage each student individually, review responses from the Lifestyle Questionnaire and offer suggestions to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Ms He asked specifically about time duration. The entire process of screening and consultation for each child may take about 30 minutes. As to how much time a child or family will spend each year to discuss about health plan, it really depends. Three Ministries have worked together to strengthen the preventive care support for children under Grow Well SG, but it will be up to families to make full use of Grow Well SG. I believe most parents want to be actively involved in building the health of their children. We will encourage parents to review their children's Health Plan, utilise the starter kit and resources on Parent Hub and Healthy 365, have discussions with their children and commit to adopt healthy habits. Many parents may face challenges in meeting the updated guidelines on screen use. I got many queries during Chinese New Year. There are tips and best practices available on platforms, such as Parent Hub website and Digital for Life portal, as well as through Families for Life parenting programmes. Parents are also in various support groups.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 4 and 5 together as they both touch on Grow Well SG please?”
“MediShield Life is designed as a universal and basic health insurance plan. Hence, it covers subsidised bills at public hospitals in Singapore. Any expansion for medical treatments overseas will likely raise premiums and undermine the original objective of the scheme. As for Integrated Shield Plans, most provide coverage for emergency overseas medical treatments. Such coverage is provided based on insurers' commercial considerations.”
“Sarcopenia refers to the progressive loss of muscle mass as one ages. Seniors who have a well-balanced diet and an active physical lifestyle have a lower risk of sarcopenia. To help more seniors age actively, we have set aside $3.5 billion over the next decade for Age Well SG initiatives, including enhancing and expanding the network of Active Ageing Centres (AACs). By 2025, seniors will be served by 220 AACs offering a variety of activities including physical exercises that support those at risk of sarcopenia. This includes the Health Promotion Board's (HPB's) Steady Lah programme, which incorporates progressive muscle strengthening exercises. Under the Live Well, Age Well programme by HPB and the People's Association, Singaporeans aged 50 and above can also participate in various active ageing activities in the community, including weekly group exercises to build strength, balance and flexibility, and workshops to learn about healthy eating. There are various public awareness campaigns that promote healthy eating and physical lifestyle habits by the Ministry of Health. For instance, through Health Hub, social media and other channels, HPB raises awareness of the need for seniors to have sufficient protein intake as part of a well-balanced diet.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track the number of Singaporeans who travel to Malaysia for medical treatment nor their reasons for doing so. MOH's priority is to ensure that healthcare in Singapore remains affordable, accessible and of high quality. We recently expanded hospital capacity with the opening of Woodlands Health Campus in 2024. We have also introduced new models of care, such as telehealth and Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home, which improve access to care for our patients. We will also be increasing MediShield Life and MediSave limits significantly from April 2025, ensuring that they remain adequate to cover nine in 10 subsidised bills. We have developed a good international and regional reputation in providing quality healthcare and will continue to welcome overseas patients to Singapore. But we are not aspiring to be a medical hub that actively promotes medical tourism.”
“My response will also cover the matters raised in the question by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong, which is scheduled for a subsequent Sitting. I would invite Member to seek clarifications, if need be. If the question has been addressed, it may not be necessary for Member to proceed with the Question for future Sittings. Vaccines assessed to be cost-effective will be eligible for MediSave use and subsidies. As shared in this House earlier, the shingles vaccine is currently priced at a level that does not commensurate with its benefits. We will continue to engage the manufacturer.”
“Post-clinical trial, Singapore is an important production base, hosting many key players in the industry. Our HSA has become an internationally highly reputable reference agency, with which suppliers would want to register their health products. In other words, like all industries, we will continue to grow the parts of the value chain where we are strong in but may have to cede some areas where we are disadvantaged.”
“We should first recognise Singapore's strengths and disadvantages in this field. We are recognised for our excellent healthcare infrastructure, strong research capabilities, experienced key opinion leaders and responsive and efficient health product regulation system. However, we are fundamentally limited by our smaller demographic base and hence, number of participants in clinical trials. Over the years, regional players have invested heavily in building their clinical research capabilities and ecosystems, growing their global share of clinical trials. These larger countries often offer competitive advantages, such as lower trial costs and larger research participant populations. Hence, the competition for hosting clinical trials is getting more intense. We will continue to enhance our attractiveness as a clinical trial destination, but in areas we are strong in. We are actively participating in regional and international clinical research networks. In 2023, about 80% of trials received by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) were multinational clinical trials, highlighting our significant involvement in cross-border research. We have been focusing on early phase and innovative product trials that are potentially impactful and can lead to benefits for Singaporeans. Notably, in recent years, we have seen an increase in oncology trials to over 50% of trials approved in Singapore in 2023, which aligns with our focus on high-impact research areas. The Singapore Clinical Research Institute, with the support of the Ministry of Health, is also streamlining processes to reduce trial start up times, enhancing trial cost transparency and dedicating specialised talent and resources to support efficient trial operations.”
“Whether stem cell based therapies for cartilage repair becomes mainstream treatment in Singapore depends on the emergence of clinical evidence. These therapies are currently classified as investigational therapies in most overseas jurisdictions because of a lack of consistent evidence in the published medical literature to demonstrate their clinical and cost-effectiveness. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is aware that they are offered in other selected jurisdictions and we urge Singaporeans to exercise full caution when they seek these treatments overseas. MOH will continue to evaluate the evidence from both local and overseas studies for clinical and cost effectiveness.”
“In November 2024, in response to an earlier Parliamentary Question from Mr Louis Ng, I had shared that the nursing support staff to nurse ratio in the public healthcare institutions has remained relatively stable in the past 10 years, at around one nursing support staff to 11 nurses. [Please refer to "Target Ratio of Nurses to Administrative and Support Healthcare Workers", Official Report, 12 November 2024, Vol 95, Issue 146, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] The number has not changed. We have been strengthening our healthcare workforce, including nurses, nursing support and other healthcare professionals. These will spread out administrative duties and help healthcare professionals practise at the top of their licence.”
“Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) are private commercial products subject to the Ministry of Health's (MOH's) requirements on key parameters, such as the co-payment and deductible. Private insurers can make changes to their IPs, such as in the claim limits and scope of coverage, in accordance with the policy contractual terms and based on commercial and actuarial considerations. In making these changes, MOH expects insurers to ensure that their policyholders' interests and well-being are safeguarded. Together with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), we also require insurers to provide customers with clear, relevant and timely information on any changes to their policy terms and conditions, so that policyholders can make informed decisions. Under MAS' insurance regulations, insurers must notify their policyholders of any change in policy terms and conditions at least 30 days before it takes effect.”
“Our financing policies for egg freezing are designed on clinical grounds. Hence today, women can tap on MediSave for egg freezing done on medical grounds. If they get married in the future and would like to use their frozen eggs for assisted reproduction treatments, they can receive Government co-funding support and use MediSave for their treatments. From a population policy perspective, the Government encourages young couples to fulfil their marriage and parenthood aspirations as soon as possible and not to inadvertently encourage them to delay their plans.”
“The average length of stay (ALOS) for patients in Transitional Care Facilities was 32 days and 37 days in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As of December 2024, the Mobile Inpatient Care at Home (MIC@Home) bed capacity is about 185 beds. The ALOS for patients under MIC@Home is six days.”
“This question has been addressed in oral reply to Parliamentary Question No 48 in the 8 January 2025 Sitting. [Please refer to "Deterrence for Use of Kpods or Vape Juices Mixed with Etomidate", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The waiting time for subsidised dental services depends on the type of service and urgency of the case. The median waiting time for new appointments for non-emergency, basic dental services at polyclinics is approximately three months. For specialist services at our national specialty dental centres, the waiting time is around one month. Emergency cases are seen on the same day. Subsidised dental services in the community are currently available at 14 polyclinics. They are also available to eligible patients at over 900 private dental clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme. The Ministry of Health monitors the demand for dental services and will further expand subsidised services, if necessary. Oral health promotion and education predates Healthier SG and are already carried out in schools and by partners in the public and private sectors to effectively reach out to the target groups.”
“This question has been addressed in written reply to Parliamentary Question No 35 in the 7 January 2025 Sitting. [Please refer to "Timeline for Developing Guidelines on Next Generation Sequencing and Potential of Sequencing as Screening Tool", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“There is a maximum age for first-time blood donors because elderly individuals have a higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, which puts them at increased risk of adverse reactions, such as dizziness and fainting spells, after donation. The Health Sciences Authority regularly reviews donor eligibility criteria to determine if the upper age limit of first-time donors could be safely increased to broaden the donor pool whilst ensuring donor safety. We will take the Member's suggestion into account in the next review.”
“I Quit, a programme by the Health Promotion Board, supports individuals seeking to stop the habit of vaping.”
“My response will also cover the matters raised in the written question by Ms Hany Soh for today's Sitting. [Please refer to "Enforcement against "Kpods" or Vape Juice Mixed with Etomidate", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Written Answers to Questions section.] The Ministry of Health (MOH), together with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and other partner enforcement agencies, have been stepping up our physical and online checks to enforce the ban on importation, supply, possession and use of e-vaporisers. As of 31 December 2024, HSA has issued fines to more than 14,000 individuals found to be in possession and use of e-vaporisers and removed about 6,800 offending listings of e-vaporisers. This was double that of 2023, when about 7,800 composition fines were issued and 3,000 listings were removed. Based on samples of e-vaporiser pods sent for testing, five cases of e-vaporisers containing etomidate were detected and investigations are ongoing. As etomidate is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act, a licence is required for the importation and sales of etomidate. HSA takes a serious view on the illegal sales and use of etomidate and will take stern actions against offenders. Contrary to the advertisements touted by online sellers, individuals consuming such e-vaporisers may also have etomidate detected in their urine. Those found to be supplying etomidate-containing pods are liable upon conviction to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to two years and/or fine up to $10,000 under the Poisons Act. The presence of etomidate laced e-vaporisers reinforces our concern that vaping is harmful and our commitment to enforcing the ban on importing, supplying, possessing or using all varieties of e-vaporisers.”
“Today, the Ministry of Health uses value-based pricing negotiations with vaccine manufacturers, as well as bulk purchasing, to ensure that drugs and vaccines are procured at cost-effective prices. However, the shingles vaccine is currently priced at a level that is not commensurate with its benefits. We are not giving up and will continue to engage the supplier.”
“The phased roll-out of the Next Generation Electronic Medical Record (NGEMR) at the National University Health System and the National Healthcare Group (NHG) was completed in July 2024, while that for SingHealth will take place from late 2026 to 2028. In total, the Government would have invested $1.5 billion over 10 years to develop and implement NGEMR for the whole public healthcare sector. NGEMR is a strategic investment with very significant benefits. More than 100 legacy information technology (IT) systems and the associated costs will be phased out. For patients who receive care at different public healthcare institutions, detailed medical records and doctors' notes on their care will be readily accessible by their doctors in the different institutions, which will improve the coordination of care for the patient. This benefit is now already realised for patients that seek care from both the National University Hospital Singapore and NHG clusters. NGEMR will also enable public healthcare institutions to utilise various analytical and operational IT tools in the system, that is available currently and in future, to enhance workflow, raise efficiency and improve health outcomes.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) actively funds research studies to better understand the needs of senior citizens, including stay-alone seniors, to support them to age well in the community. An example is the Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement and Intergenerational Transfers in Singapore Study conducted by the Duke-NUS Medical School's Centre for Ageing Research and Education. This is a longitudinal study of health and social engagement levels among older Singaporeans. Learnings from the studies feed into the relevant MOH initiatives. For instance, the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care proactively identifies vulnerable seniors, including those who live alone and connects them with the relevant support, such as the Active Ageing Centres, which provide active ageing programmes and befriending services. In line with these efforts, MOH tracks the number of vulnerable seniors who are referred to and supported by community services.”
“Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a tool for genetic sequencing. There are two types of NGS: small panel NGS sequences specific segments of genes of interest, while large panel NGS analyses extensive portions or the entirety of an individual's genetic code. Specifically, for cancers, NGS can be used to identify the makeup of genetic changes in a patient's tumour, for more targeted treatment. That said, for most patients, standard cancer treatments are effective. For certain cancers and patients, our public healthcare institutions use small panel NGS routinely for tumour profiling and such tests could be covered by MediSave and MediShield Life. Our clinicians are guided by international best practices on the most appropriate and best usage of NGS. For cancers where there is insufficient evidence for routine testing, large-panel NGS is currently used in Singapore as a research tool in clinical trials, to gather evidence on which cancer gene mutations may be more susceptible to which treatments. As this is an evolving field, there is an ongoing effort by the Ministry of Health to review emerging evidence and developing guidelines for use cases where the deployment of NGS is appropriate as well as clinically- and cost-effective.”
“Patients, therefore, cannot opt out of contributing their records to NEHR, as this is required for proper clinical care. We intend to provide under the Health Information Bill provisions that enable patients some control over the extent which medical information will be shared with healthcare providers providing care to the patients. We will elaborate on this feature when the Bill is introduced and debated.”
“The National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) information is for the purposes of clinical care. The information of a patient is therefore only accessible by clinicians or healthcare professionals who are caring for the patient. Healthcare providers are also prohibited from sharing NEHR information further with external parties not involved in the care of the patient. Hence, insurance companies or employers do not and will not have access to NEHR information. In the proposed Health Information Bill, to be tabled in Parliament this year, the Ministry of Health intends to make this even clearer. Within a healthcare institution or clinic, patients' health information will always be captured. This is important for proper clinical care and is no different from any service provider, which must always capture the information of the customers they serve. However, for healthcare, beyond capturing patients' health information, we also need to share it across the healthcare system. This is because patients move from setting to setting and the sharing of information will ensure proper continuity of care and also cut down on duplicative and unnecessary diagnostic tests. Today, patients' health information is already shared across public healthcare institutions. However, this is not the case between private and public sector healthcare institutions, as contribution of patients' health information by private healthcare institutions is voluntary. The key purpose of the Health Information Bill is to make it a requirement for all licensed healthcare providers, including private outpatient clinics and private hospitals, to contribute summary patient health records to NEHR and share them across the healthcare system for better care of patients.”
“As part of the review of the MediShield Life Scheme announced recently, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be raising the MediSave inpatient and day surgery withdrawal limits. From 1 April 2025, for a typical delivery episode comprising a two-day B2/C ward stay and related pre-delivery medical expenses, the amount of MediSave one can withdraw will increase from up to $2,750 today to up to $4,280. MOH will also be raising the MediSave Grant for Newborns from $4,000 to $5,000 for every Singaporean Citizen newborn born from 1 April 2025. This will further help to offset the medical expenses of Singaporean children.”
“In other countries, puberty blockers have been used for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria. There is insufficient evidence to indicate that puberty blockers are safe for children or there is significant clinical benefit to them, especially when most children do not remain gender dysphoric later in life. The Ministry of Health therefore does not recommend the use of puberty blockers for minors with gender dysphoria.”
“Based on our national public health records, there were about 85,000 Singaporeans who were prescribed anti-depressant medication in 2023. The national public health records do not track the usage duration. Doctors prescribe anti-depressants based on their clinical assessment and prevailing clinical practice guidelines. The risks and benefits of anti-depressant medication are explained to patients, including younger patients and/or their caregivers, prior to the start of treatment. Educational resources are available on Government agency websites, including the Health Science Authority, Agency for Care Effectiveness and HealthHub. These resources provide information on the safe usage and side effects of anti-depressant medications.”
“These questions have been addressed in oral reply to Parliamentary Question No 82 in the 7 January 2025 Sitting. [Please refer to "Improving Public Recognition of Mental Health Conditions", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track the rate of miscarriages from normal and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) pregnancies. Pregnancy loss from IVF may be due to other factors besides miscarriages. MOH has embarked on a Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) study to improve IVF success rates for women with recurrent pregnancy losses. The Ministry is reviewing its clinical effectiveness and clinical safety outcomes to determine if PGS should become a mainstream clinical service.”
“In addition, the 2021 survey by NCSS reported improved public attitudes toward individuals with mental health conditions compared to the initial study in 2017. We will continue to strengthen our ongoing efforts as part of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy and explore more targeted approaches to address stigma affecting specific populations, for example, with the BTL campaign promoting inclusive workplaces and employment support.”
“My response will also cover the matters raised in the written questions by Dr Wan Rizal for today's Sitting. [Please refer to "Reducing Stigma Towards Individuals with Mental Health Conditions", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Written Answers to Questions section.] Mental health literacy plays a pivotal role in addressing public misconceptions and false perceptions about mental health, which cause stigma. Singapore has made significant progress in raising awareness through initiatives, such as the Health Promotion Board's (HPB's) "Supporters who Listen, Support Better" campaign and the National Council of Social Service's (NCSS') "Beyond the Label" (BTL) campaign, which features stories on the lived experience of individuals with mental health conditions, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia. These campaigns are complemented by educational resources available on platforms, like Mindline.sg, as well as public education and outreach efforts by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and HPB. AIC also trains frontline personnel and community partners to recognise and support people with common mental health conditions. Community-level support for vulnerable groups, such as older adults and individuals with lower education levels, are provided through the Well-being Circles, Community Outreach Teams and Community Intervention Teams. Seniors, in particular, benefit from targeted outreach by Silver Generation Ambassadors and offline support through CareLine, a 24/7 social support hotline. These collective efforts have improved public awareness and recognition of common mental health conditions, as shown in the Mind Matters study conducted from 2022 to 2023. Even OCD, a condition not so well understood, has become more recognisable.”
“A pandemic, by nature, is a global disease outbreak where the world cannot be entirely prepared for. That said, from the experience of COVID-19, we have put in a place a robust contingency plan, which we have been discussing in this House. For example, we have a comprehensive set of clinical protocols, including patient isolation, restriction of visitors and donning of full Personal Protective Equipment to protect our healthcare workers during a pandemic. We have stockpiles of drugs, such as antivirals, which can effectively reduce the severity of certain diseases. Parliament has recently passed the amendments to the Infectious Diseases Act to confer the Ministry of Health the powers to take necessary measures, including a Circuit Breaker or even declaring an Emergency and imposing a curfew, to slow down the spread of the disease. This will help buy time for an effective vaccine and other medical countermeasures to be developed, manufactured, distributed and administered. In this regard, Singapore is plugged into global vaccine development efforts, such as the 100 Days Mission. We are hosting several vaccine manufacturing plants in Singapore, which give ourselves additional options during a pandemic. No country is ever fully ready for a pandemic, but we have taken all possible measures to prepare ourselves for it.”