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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“Patients undergoing lung transplant generally have end-stage lung disease. Lung transplant is the only remaining lifesaving treatment option for these patients. There are multiple factors that influence post-transplant outcomes. These include the recipient's underlying diagnosis and presence of cardiopulmonary complications arising from the original lung disease and the health condition at the time of transplantation. Between 2020 and 2025, there were four lung transplant surgeries performed. Three of the recipients passed away and the other is recovering well. The volume of lung transplant surgeries in Singapore is not expected to be comparable to Western countries, likely due to our lower prevalence of end-stage lung diseases. Nonetheless, the transplant team maintains their expertise through training at high volume transplant centres overseas and participation in international conferences and workshops. Experts from the Duke University Health System, one of the largest lung transplant programme in the United States, also proctor the transplant surgeons during transplant surgeries performed in Singapore. Transplant surgeons also maintain their technical skills by performing other thoracic surgeries involving similar surgical techniques used in lung transplants and undergo surgical practice using animal models.”
“On 13 February 2026, the Communicable Diseases Agency issued guidance recommending that infants aged six to 11 months travelling to countries with measles outbreaks or high measles incidence should receive an earlier dose of MMR vaccine. This dose should be given at least two weeks before travel to reduce the risk of infection when travelling. For long-term immunity, such infants should still complete the two-dose MMR vaccine series according to the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule.”
“The Moratorium on Genetic Testing and Insurance prohibits insurers from requesting for or using predictive genetic test results in underwriting, with limited exceptions. Without this, we risk fragmenting the risk pool based on individuals' genetic makeup and undermining the purpose of insurance. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has worked with the Life Insurance Association to carefully design the policy application forms to adhere to these guidelines. Information disclosed in application forms must be relevant, accurate, and not misleading. For example, once an individual has consulted a doctor for manifested symptoms or received a formal diagnosis, such medical information forms part of their medical history and may be disclosed for underwriting. But the underlying genetic causes should not be disclosed. However, for very high-value insurance products where it can be susceptible to abuse, insurers may request additional information, including genetic test results, to ensure fairness across all policyholders. In addition, after a policyholder has been accepted for insurance coverage, the moratorium does not apply. This allows individuals to submit relevant medical history and/or diagnosis in support of their insurance claims and the insurer to assess if the claim is covered according to policy terms and conditions. Such information is only used for claim assessment purposes and no secondary underwriting is imposed. Moving forward, MOH will strengthen legislative protections for all genetic information and genetic test results to provide greater public assurance.”
“Since February 2019, all foreign-born children aged 12 years and below applying for long-term immigration passes in Singapore have to be vaccinated or be immune against measles. This is also required for healthcare workers, preschool staff and migrant domestic workers working in households with young children. Measles is a legally notifiable disease in Singapore. All medical practitioners and laboratories are required to notify the Ministry of Health within 24-hours of clinical suspicion or laboratory diagnosis. The Communicable Diseases Agency investigates all notified measles cases, including imported cases and implements appropriate public health actions. Singapore maintains high vaccination coverage for measles, which provides a robust herd immunity and limits the spread in the community. Hence, border measures are not required at this juncture.”
“Seniors and persons with disabilities who require hearing aids may tap on the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund and the Assistive Technology Fund respectively. These schemes provide means-tested subsidies of up to 90% for eligible Singaporeans. The monthly per capita household income eligibility cap for these subsidies was raised from $2,600 to $4,800 in January 2026, to allow more individuals to benefit. Those with severe hearing loss who require costlier hearing devices, such as cochlear implants, may also tap on subsidies, MediSave and MediShield Life for these. The MediSave and MediShield Life limits for these were also enhanced in April 2025, as part of the MediShield Life 2024 review. Singaporeans who require further financial assistance for essential hearing devices can approach the Agency for Integrated Care, SG Enable or medical social workers at our public hospitals for further support. No one will be denied appropriate healthcare due to an inability to pay.”
“In 2023 and 2024, there were around 940 medical social workers in the public healthcare and community sectors. The 2025 data is not yet available. We do not track the average and median caseloads and duration of cases managed by medical social workers. These can vary widely depending on case complexity and care setting. The Ministry of Health reviews and updates manpower plans in the public healthcare sector from time to time.”
“In 2024, the measles vaccination coverages at two and seven years were 93% and 97% respectively. For diphtheria, the vaccination coverages at two and 11 years of age were 89% and 95% respectively. The coverages have remained high for years, and may be found in the Reports on Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore. To cover children who have yet to receive the vaccinations, we send HealthHub notifications and reminder letters to parents, reach out during preschool enrolment where proof of immunity is required, and provide catch-up vaccination in primary and secondary schools.”
“We have put in place enhanced public health measures, including isolation of cases, contact tracing, vaccination and quarantine to prevent community spread of measles. The measures were set out in a press release on 6 February 2026, which have been amplified through government social media platforms. Public awareness of the announcement has been high. Medical practitioners are also reminded to remain vigilant and to notify the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) promptly of suspected cases. Under the National Adult Immunisation Schedule, all adults who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or lack evidence of past infection or immunity are recommended to complete two doses of the MMR vaccine. Adults who are uncertain of their vaccination or immunity status should consult their healthcare provider for assessment and advice.”
“Between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2025, 50 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were notified. Three were tourists, while the remainder were living in Singapore. Six cases were breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals. The measles vaccination coverage for resident children at two years of age has been about 93% for Dose 2, and 97% by seven years old. In addition, seroprevalence survey data showed that 99% of adult residents in Singapore have immunity against measles. This is above the measles herd immunity threshold of 95% to prevent population-wide spread and protect those who are unable to receive the vaccination, such as infants under 12 months. Singapore remains vulnerable to imported cases and small clusters due to pockets of unvaccinated individuals and high travel volumes from measles outbreak areas. There is currently no evidence of sustained community transmission of measles. Our high vaccination coverage, surveillance and prompt public health response help safeguard against the re-establishment of endemic measles transmission.”
“Currently, registered optometrists working in institutions licensed under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA), for example, those assisting ophthalmologists in community eye clinics, may be provided access to the National Electronic Health Record system (NEHR) to support the delivery of care to patients. Health information from optometrists in non-HCSA licensed institutions is currently not required to be submitted to NEHR.”
“Generally, in recent years, 3% to 5% of healthcare professionals (HCPs) did not obtain full registration by the end of their fixed supervision and training term. HCPs generally commence clinical practice under provisional or conditional registration. Those who do not attain full registration after the end of a fixed supervision and training term may continue to practise safely under supervision and continue to work towards meeting the requirements to be fully registered. Standardised training programmes and competency frameworks enable them to progress towards independent practice under full registration. Regular performance reviews during the supervisory period also allow for early identification of areas requiring improvement, enabling targeted support and additional training where needed.”
“Since the launch of the national mindline 1771 service in June 2025, counsellors have handled more than 39,000 calls, messages and webchats, with 26% of help-seekers choosing not to disclose their personally identifiable information. The distribution of help-seekers across the hotline, WhatsApp messaging and webchat messaging channels is approximately 60%, 25% and 15% respectively. Most of the help-seekers do not explicitly reveal their age or gender. However, based on counsellors' interactions with help-seekers across all channels, gender could be determined in approximately 37% of cases with fairly similar numbers of males and females. For help-seekers who chose to share their age, most are 20 to 35 years old, as shown in Table 1. Of the help-seekers attended to, approximately 10%, 75% and 15% required immediate crisis intervention, early support and counselling, and wayfinding and referrals, respectively. Help-seekers are mostly referred to Community Outreach Teams, Community Intervention Teams and Family Counselling Centres.”
“Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) service is not a licensable healthcare service under the Healthcare Services Act 2020, and under the Health Information Bill, data from TCM practitioners are not within the data types to be contributed to the National Electronic Health Record system.”
“The Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care consider the current and projected number of seniors based on administrative data, local service needs as well as the accessibility of Active Ageing Centres (AACs) when planning for and setting up new AACs, including in new Build-To-Order developments. The Agency for Integrated Care works with relevant stakeholders to inform residents of the expected operationalisation timeline of upcoming AACs.”
“Since the introduction of elective egg freezing (EEF) in June 2023, more than 800 women have undergone EEF (as of 31 December 2025). Approximately 57% of them are 35 years and above, 39% between 30 to 34 years, and 4% below 30 years. An egg freezing cycle at public hospitals costs approximately $10,000.”
“Some retailers have chosen to use Community Health Assist Scheme cards to offer special benefits or discounts to targeted customer segments. These are private initiatives and unrelated to Government subsidies for healthcare. As such, my Ministry does not collect data on such uses.”
“Dengvaxia is currently the only licensed dengue vaccine in Singapore. The supplier has decided to discontinue it due to low global demand. It is therefore only available for individuals who have already initiated the three-dose series. There are two other dengue vaccines approved in other countries – Qdenga and Butantan-Dengue Vaccine. These vaccines are however not approved for use in Singapore. One had withdrawn its application following a review by the Health Sciences Authority on its submitted scientific data and there is no application for the other. Another dengue vaccine candidate, V181, developed by MSD, is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trial. The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies will continue to monitor the development of dengue vaccines and therapeutics as part of a multi-pronged approach to dengue control in Singapore.”
“Based on available data between 2020 and 2024, over eight in 10 Singapore Citizens did not pay cash out-of-pocket for their subsidised day surgeries after MediSave and MediShield Life. Among the minority who incurred cash out of pocket, the large majority paid less than $500. MediFund is available to those who require help affording healthcare expenses after subsidies, MediSave and MediShield Life. No one will lose access to appropriate healthcare due to an inability to pay.”
“Applicants for a subsidised Motorised Device (MD) under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) must fulfil the following criteria beyond the standard SMF eligibility requirements: (i) requires an MD to be able to age in place within the community, as assessed by a doctor's memo; (ii) is mentally and physically fit to drive the MD; and (iii) not able to use a manual wheelchair independently and does not have a full-time caregiver who is able to push the wheelchair. Naturally, some applicants will not qualify. However, the Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) do not track success or rejection rates. Applicants who require further assistance on SMF may approach AIC for more information and support.”
“The Parenthood Genetic Disease Carrier Test (PREDICT) programme is an ongoing pilot programme to screen parents for autosomal recessive genetic conditions such as Pompe disease and spinal muscular atrophy, which are not covered in existing prenatal screening tests. The pilot was started in 2024 by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). As at end 2025, a total of 674 couples has undergone screening during the pre-conception phase at KKH. The Ministry of Health will work with KKH to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of the pilot when the results are available to determine if the PREDICT screening tests should become a mainstream service.”
“Subsidies are accorded to treatments if they are assessed to be clinically effective, safe and cost-effective. Hence, only intra-articular corticosteroid injections are currently subsidised for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Hyaluronic acid and other regenerative injections are currently not subsidised as there is insufficient evidence of their clinical effectiveness. This assessment is aligned with high-quality international guidelines. The Ministry of Health will continue to evaluate the evidence from both local and overseas studies as these become available.”
“The Ministry of Health and Public Healthcare Institutions have established systems to process complaints appropriately. For complaints that are frivolous, a polite reply may be issued. Complaints that raise serious concerns are investigated, even if they are submitted anonymously. In cases where complainants become abusive, we disengage from further communication. However, we do not specifically track the number of frivolous, vexatious or anonymous complaints. For complaints lodged with the Professional Boards, there are procedures in place to investigate these complaints and dismiss those that are unsubstantiated. In the past three years, 32% of complaints were dismissed this way. The Professional Boards do not initiate investigations against frivolous complainants. However, measures are in place to deter frivolous and vexatious complaints. For example, individuals making complaints against registered healthcare practitioners are generally required to make a statutory declaration concerning their complaint. Action may be taken against complainants who make false declarations.”
“Annually, insurers submit to the Ministry of Health the gross premiums collected and claims settled for Integrated Shield Plans, broken down by the ward class and type of the plan. The numbers reveal that loss ratios for private hospitals are higher than public non-subsidised wards. However, only aggregate numbers are publicly available.”
“The Ministry of Health is finalising its proposed legislative amendments and will table it in Parliament within the first half of 2026.”
“We are not seeing an increasing trend of youth being involved in the supply or sale of e-vaporisers. We impose stiff penalties against supply and sale of e-vaporisers to ensure sufficient deterrence and protect Singaporeans from the harms of e-vaporisers. In the course of investigations, the Health Sciences Authority takes into account several factors, including the quantity and types of illicit products involved, as well as evidence of intent to sell or supply to others, to determine the nature of the offence. Factors, such as their age or number of past offences, will also be taken into consideration by the Courts when determining the appropriate sentences.”
“These questions have been addressed in the written answer to Parliamentary Question No 16 at the Parliament Sitting on 3 February 2026. [Please refer to "CREST and COMIT Referral Statistics by Source in Past Three Years and Assessment on Appropriate Care Tiers", Official Report, 3 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 15, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“Studies around the world have consistently shown that lower income households have a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, which are associated with unhealthy diets. To counter this, the most critical public policy is to ensure universal access to healthcare, education and housing, which are the key risk drivers of poor health. Healthier SG, in particular, ensure access to evidence-based preventive care to all Singaporeans aged 40 and above. In addition, the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have implemented specific initiatives to improve access to healthier food options. Under the Healthier Dining Programme, healthier meals are accessible across different settings, enabling availability for all, including at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts. HPB also works with supermarket chains under the Healthier Choice Symbol Programme to increase the variety of healthier and more affordable house brand products.”
“Between 2020 and 2025, 50 cases were processed under the Healthcare Mediation Scheme. About 31 cases were successfully mediated.”
“The Minister of Health (MOH) does not actively track manpower data on counsellors. Based on data from the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC), the number of counselling practitioners who voluntarily registered with SAC increased from 969 in 2022 to 1,838 in 2025. The social service agencies and public health institutions continuously review their individual service needs and recruit additional counsellors to meet these demands. Newly trained counsellors receive support, such as supervision, structured induction, professional development, peer networks and administrative guidance, though structures vary by organisation. Under the SAC's constitution, entry-level counsellors working towards registration must receive clinical supervision from a Registered Counsellor or Registered Clinical Supervisor. The SAC membership provides access to professional development opportunities, research publications, networking and updates on landscape developments through Government and regional collaborations. In addition to the National Mental Health Competency Training Framework that guides mental health practitioners, including counsellors, in developing competencies aligned with the Tiered Care Model, counsellors can also refer to the Skills Framework for Social Service for the required core skills and competencies, as well as the counselling career trajectory map. Counsellors could also enhance their capabilities through postgraduate courses and specialised skills training, such as Master's degrees in counselling offered by the Singapore University of Social Sciences and the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University or postgraduate diplomas in counselling provided by the College of Allied Educators.”
“Singapore has established psychiatric intermediate- to long-term care facilities to support stable individuals with mental health conditions of varying severity. These facilities include psychiatric nursing homes for patients with long-term care needs, psychiatric rehabilitation and psychiatric shelter homes for patients that require residential psychiatric rehabilitation and psychiatric day care centres to support individuals undergoing rehabilitation in the community. Our community and step-down care models enable individuals with severe but stable mental health conditions to progressively reintegrate back into the community.”
“Premiums of our national health insurance scheme, such as MediShield Life, are fully payable by MediSave. As Integrated Shield Plans (IP) are optional, commercial products that provide additional coverage for unsubsidised care, MediSave use for IP premiums are capped by the Additional Withdrawal Limits (AWLs). In considering enhancements to the AWLs, we would need to strike a balance between allowing Singaporeans to use more of their MediSave for private insurance while ensuring that they preserve adequate MediSave for other basic healthcare needs in the future.”
“The Government assures Singaporeans universal access to healthcare through subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund. Private insurance is optional, mostly for non-subsidised healthcare and usually involving private hospitals. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) also expect insurers to process claims fairly, according to policy terms. MAS will take action against insurers who do not do so. MOH does not actively track disputes between patients and private health insurers, as these are matters relating to private contracts. For disputes that cannot be resolved directly with the insurer, policyholders may seek recourse at the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre. Data on private health insurance disputes will be provided separately by MAS.”
“This reply will also address a similar question for oral answer raised by Mr Yip Hon Weng for a subsequent Sitting. The Health Promotion Board's latest National Nutrition Survey shows that ultra-processed foods account for less than one-third of Singapore residents' total caloric intake. This is lower than that in Western countries, such as the United Kingdom and United States, where ultra-processed foods contribute to more than half of total caloric intake. Generally, products with higher levels of processing have less favourable nutrient profiles which are characterised by elevated caloric density, excessive nutrients of concern and reduced dietary fibre and essential vitamins. Our current guidelines already discourage consumption of such foods based on their nutrient profiles. We will continue to monitor emerging evidence and international developments, as well as encourage industry reformulation to improve nutrient profiles of food products via our Healthier Choice Symbol programme.”
“EatWise SG is an initiative to equip healthcare workers to deliver better diet recommendations for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and malnutrition. Under this initiative, an EatWise SG resource and training package was developed to help doctors and nurses deliver nutrition advice, including during Healthier SG and Nurse Counselling sessions. E-learning programmes and workshops on nutrition risk identification including malnutrition and diet advice are also being rolled out to primary care doctors, nurses and community care providers. Through EatWise SG, primary care and community providers can conduct nutritional assessments during opportunistic frailty screening to identify at-risk seniors who would benefit from diet interventions. As EatWise SG pilots are still in the early stages, the Ministry of Health does not have sufficient data to report on outcomes or referrals for seniors with malnutrition risk. We will monitor effectiveness of the capability development efforts through indicators, such as patient satisfaction with nutrition care and patient-reported adherence to the recommended diet strategies.”
“Community Health Posts complement the family doctor's care. They support residents to achieve their health goals by providing services, such as medication management and lifestyle counselling. As part of Healthier SG, we are encouraging higher take-up of health screening through family doctors. The family doctor is best placed to assess the resident's health conditions, recommend the appropriate regular screenings, explain screening results and guide follow-ups. Under Healthier SG screening, eligible Singapore Citizen enrollees can access fully subsidised screening at their enrolled primary care provider.”
“MOH, together with the Agency for Integrated Care, maintains close monitoring of service capacity of CREST and COMIT to determine future care model including resourcing of manpower, to ensure that quality care is delivered sustainably to meet the needs of our residents.”
“This reply will also address similar questions raised by the Member scheduled for today's Sitting. The Ministry of Health (MOH) currently does not track the registration status of Community Outreach Teams (CREST) and Community Intervention Team (COMIT) professionals. Since 2025, minimum qualifications have been established to ensure consistent competency across CREST and COMIT staff. CREST and COMIT professionals also receive training to achieve competencies defined in the National Mental Health Competency Training Framework. This includes participation in regular case discussions with psychiatrists from our public hospitals. From 2022 to 2024, CREST supported over 19,000 clients a year on average. Each professional managed about 90 clients per year, with clients receiving six to seven sessions annually, with an average programme duration of one and a half years before discharge. Of the referrals received, self-referrals, referrals from other agencies and step-down referrals from hospitals and primary care accounted for 46%, 41% and 13% respectively. From 2022 to 2024, COMIT supported over 14,000 clients a year on average. Each professional managed about 70 clients per year, with clients receiving five to 11 sessions annually, with an average programme duration of one year before discharge. Of the referrals received by COMIT, step-down referrals from hospitals and primary care, referrals from other agencies and self-referrals accounted for 41%, 36%, and 23%, respectively. The Practice Guide for Tiered Care Model for Mental Health provides referral criteria and guidance to CREST and COMIT.”
“Dialysis patients receive lifelong financing support through Government subsidies, MediShield Life and MediSave. These financing schemes are regularly reviewed, to ensure that dialysis remains affordable for all Singaporeans. For instance, MediShield Life claim limits for dialysis were reviewed and increased by about 60%, from $1,100 to $1,750 per month from April 2025. The Ministry of Health has also enhanced Government subsidies for subsidised dialysis patients since 1 July 2025. Beyond these, eligible patients can also receive charity assistance and other forms of discretionary support, such as MediFund. Most subsidised patients pay no cash out of pocket for their dialysis treatments. No one will be denied appropriate care due to an inability to pay.”
“Members of the public can report vaping activities through the Health Sciences Authority hotline during its operating hours or through the online reporting channel at https://go.gov.sg/reportvape. Since the enhanced vaping enforcement operations on 1 September 2025, majority, or about 70%, of the reports are submitted online, with the remaining 30% submitted via the hotline during its operating hours. Approximately 20% of the reports are submitted outside hotline operating hours, through the online channel. All reports of vaping activities, including those submitted outside the hotline operating hours, will be responded to promptly.”
“Under the Healthcare Services Act (HCSA), licensees including clinicians are required to: (a) maintain the confidentiality of every patient health record; and (b) protect patient health records from unauthorised access, disclosure, copying or use. In addition, the Health Information Bill strictly prohibits access to the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) for insurance related purposes. Where the purpose of the insurer's information request is unclear, clinicians should request for and the insurer should provide, clarifications to ensure relevant information is provided. Clinicians should prepare separate medical memos or clinical summaries for the insurer, based on their own clinical records. They must not access NEHR for such purposes. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has clarified these matters through a circular issued to all licensees under the HCSA. With the Monetary Authority of Singapore's support, MOH also issued a guidance note to insurers on the above-mentioned, as well as the appropriate practices and scope when requesting patient medical records from clinicians. We expect insurers to ensure that their practices are aligned with the guidance.”
“E-vaporisers disguised in the form of USB drives, highlighters, smart devices and other everyday items are not new. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has been detecting such cases. HSA has encountered two cases of smart e-vaporisers thus far. HSA shares intelligence with enforcement agencies so that frontline enforcement officers can effectively identify e-vaporisers of various forms. These officers are already empowered to carry out the necessary enforcement activities. The Ministry of Health plans to legislate stiffer penalties for importers and suppliers of e-vaporisers, regardless of their form. The use of deceptive designs to evade detection can be presented to the Courts as an aggravating factor warranting a higher sentence.”
“We have been increasing the capacity and coverage of strength training facilities in the community to meet the growing demand among seniors, including fitness corners in Housing and Development Board estates and public parks, as well as ActiveSG gyms located islandwide. More seniors have also benefitted from programmes to improve muscle strength and prevent frailty, organised by agencies such as the Health Promotion Board and Sport Singapore. Many of these programmes are offered at the expanded network of Active Ageing Centres. These complement the facilities and programmes offered by private organisations, such as Gym Tonic. We will continue to monitor and support the uptake of strength training among seniors.”
“Singapore has a range of policies and programmes to help seniors access dental care regularly, focusing on preventive care, access to services and financial support. We recently enhanced CHAS subsidies for preventive dental care in October 2025. We are also working towards bringing dental care closer to where seniors live by expanding dental services at polyclinics and strengthening partnerships with community dental providers to make regular visits and routine care more convenient for seniors. Subsidised dental care in the community is currently available at over 1,000 CHAS clinics and 15 polyclinics. We encourage seniors to go for regular dental check-ups as part of preventive care. For example, Project Silver Screen (PSS) is a nationwide community screening programme that screens seniors aged 60 and above in their vision, hearing and oral health. Seniors found to have dental abnormalities will be referred to CHAS dental clinics. More than 30,000 seniors are screened under PSS each year. The National Dental Centre Singapore (NDCS) also runs programmes to support seniors' oral health. The Oral Health Movement 8020 encourages older adults to retain at least 20 teeth into their 80s, reducing oral frailty and enabling early detection of risk factors. Complementing this, the Oral Health Education Programme trains caregivers in long-term care settings to provide basic oral hygiene and recognise dental problems. To improve access, NDCS offers Tele-dentistry Oral Care for Seniors for remote consultations, hygiene support and denture care for residents in nursing homes and home care and has recently launched its first mobile dental clinic to bring dental services closer to the elderly community.”
“The Ministry regularly review our medium to long term manpower plans and translate them into education, training and recruitment initiatives. Our healthcare workforce is projected to grow by 20% from 129,000 in 2024 to about 156,000 in 2030, taking into account evolving care models and areas of growth such as community nurses. Our current healthcare workforce is broadly adequate for the population's healthcare demand. In the public hospitals, which account for the bulk of patients, the overall vacancy rate is low.”
“Under Age Well SG, the Silver Generation Office (SGO) and various social service agencies work closely together to support vulnerable seniors. SGO's role is to outreach to all seniors, identify seniors with needs, and connect them to community resources, such as befriending and buddying services at Active Ageing Centres. Befrienders from these social service agencies will then maintain regular contact with seniors, with those accepting the befriending service contacted at least monthly. The Housing and Development Board has been progressively extending the wireless Alert Alarm System to seniors staying in public rental blocks, to allow them to call for help during emergencies. The Ministry of Health is also implementing the enhanced Home Personal Care service islandwide from April 2026, where eligible seniors can subscribe to a technology-enabled fall and incident monitoring and response service.”
“The Ministry of Health does not track food waste data for meal delivery services for senior citizens. Instead, meal delivery service providers funded by the Government minimise food waste by matching delivery times to clients' schedules and offering meals that cater to their dietary needs.”
“MediSave is a national savings scheme designed to support basic healthcare needs. As such, premiums of our national health insurance scheme, such as MediShield Life, are fully payable by MediSave. As Integrated Shield Plans (IP) are optional, commercial products that provide additional coverage for unsubsidised care, MediSave use for IP premiums are capped by the Additional Withdrawal Limits (AWLs). In considering enhancements to the AWLs, we would need to strike a balance between allowing Singaporeans to use more of their MediSave for private insurance while ensuring that they preserve adequate MediSave for other basic healthcare needs in the future. Should individuals face challenges with the rising private insurance premiums, they are encouraged to consult their financial advisors to review their private health insurance coverage, taking into account their healthcare needs, care preferences and financial affordability.”
“This is a key concern that the Government has been working on for many years, given our ageing population. To build a strong support network for seniors, the Ministry of Health established the Agency for Integrated Care, recruited Silver Generation Ambassadors to reach out to seniors and established many Senior Activity Centres. Under Age Well SG, these have evolved into a comprehensive support network of Active Ageing Centres, which engage seniors with needs or at risk of social isolation. Age Well SG also includes enhanced support for those in need of care, such as the Home Personal Care service. We will continue to strengthen our outreach efforts by working with volunteer groups and community organisations to engage, befriend and support vulnerable and isolated seniors.”
“The two cited studies are based on observational data that suggest a potential association between shingles vaccination and reduced risk of dementia. Additional research is required to establish causality and the underlying biological mechanisms, to determine the vaccine's effect on dementia risk. The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the emergence of such scientific evidence. In the meantime, we will maintain the age criterion for Shingles vaccination subsidies, on the basis that the incidence of shingles rises steeply after age 60, approximately three to four times that of individuals aged 50 to 59 years.”
“Conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) are regularly reviewed by a Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Family Physicians and specialists from the public and private sectors. In assessing the inclusion of conditions onto the CDMP, the CAC consults clinical experts in various healthcare settings and considers factors, such as disease burden, potential benefits of early interventions to patient outcomes, the cumulative cost to the patient from long-term treatment and the availability of evidence-based clinical guidelines for appropriate care of the condition. The management of congenital conditions, such as hypogonadism, are largely specialist-led, involves complex therapies and is not routinely managed in primary care. They are also less prevalent in the general population. As such, they are not suitable for inclusion under the CDMP. Subsidies and MediSave use for chronic disease management are available at both polyclinics and private general practitioner (GP) clinics. At GP clinics, the subsidies are available under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). MediFund is an additional financial assistance available to needy patients, over and above regular subsidies. It is extended only to institutions which the Ministry of Health has greater financial governance oversight and more stringent controls over. It is therefore available for management of chronic conditions only in the polyclinics and public hospitals. CHAS patients who need additional financial assistance, such as MediFund, can be managed at polyclinics for their chronic diseases.”