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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“We believe that hawker food can be both tasty and healthier. A key initiative to achieve this is Health Promotion Board's Healthier Dining Programme. As of September 2025, there are more than 9,200 hawker stalls, food court stalls, restaurants and food kiosks participating in the Programme. These eateries offer at least one healthier option on their menu, which may be either a lower-calorie meal, or prepared using healthier ingredients, such as wholegrain staples, healthier oils or lower-sodium salt, sauces and seasonings. There is also the Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme, which supports the use of healthier ingredients, such as lower sodium salt, by enabling Food and Beverage operators to obtain them at prices comparable to regular products. We also encourage consumers to directly request for healthier options when they eat out. This can help to create demand for healthier options and encourage more stall owners to adjust their menus.”
“The attrition rates at entry-level job grades in our Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) have generally improved between 2022 and 2024, decreasing from 6.4% to 5.0% for doctors; from 9.7% to 8.5% for nurses; and from 14.6% to 11.5% for support care staff. Retaining healthcare workers is a challenge all round the world because of high demand for healthcare. The Ministry of Health ensures that healthcare remains an attractive career option through competitive remuneration, rewarding and fulfilling careers, and opportunities for learning and growth. It is also important that society values the work of healthcare workers and respects the professions.”
“The Ministry of Health does not track the data requested by the Member. However, we expect most seniors receiving the Central Provident Fund Lifelong Income For the Elderly payouts to have also accumulated a healthy MediSave balance, which can be used for their national health insurance annual premiums. In addition, the Government provides support to keep premiums affordable, including premium subsidies for the lower- to middle-income, subsidies and MediSave top-ups for Pioneer Generation seniors, and additional support for Merdeka Generation seniors' premiums. The Government will continue to assure Singaporeans that no one will lose their MediShield Life and CareShield Life coverage due to financial difficulties.”
“Patients can have tests, scans or procedures performed if available at polyclinics regardless of the public healthcare cluster of the hospital that ordered them. In some cases, patients may be reviewed by a polyclinic doctor before the tests are performed. The test results are made available to the hospitals via the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), which enables secure sharing of patient data across public healthcare institutions. Access to this data will become more seamless as we move towards using the same electronic medical record system across all public healthcare institutions.”
“Claims for MediSave, MediShield Life (MSHL) and Integrated Shield Plans (IP) are filed electronically through the national claims processing system. The system contains all relevant data fields required for the assessment and processing of claims for cancer drugs listed on the Cancer Drug List (CDL). This minimises administrative hassle and follow-on clarifications from insurers. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is aware that for some cancer drug claims, especially those for drugs not listed on CDL, insurers may require additional information from healthcare providers. For example, for non-CDL treatments that are not covered by MSHL and IPs but are covered by riders, insurers may need to request for information on whether the treatments have been approved by regulatory authorities or supported by established clinical guidelines, in order to process for reimbursement. In addition, manual submissions would be required for cases involving providers or payers that cannot be filed through the system. These additional submissions enable insurers to assess the claims and pay out the correct benefits. Where specific feedback about the administrative processes is surfaced, MOH will engage the healthcare providers and insurers to explore opportunities to further streamline the claim processes.”
“What the Member might be asking is why many preventive care services under Healthier SG are fully subsidised, while other healthcare services, including those under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), require co-payment by patients. The key reason is that we want to encourage cost effective preventive care. Hence for preventive care services, where we hope that as many people take it up as possible under Healthier SG, we have given full subsidies to the target population segment. Subsidies for all other healthcare services, including acute hospital care or chronic care, continue to be means-tested and require co-payment, to instill some discipline in healthcare provision and consumption, because unnecessary consumption of healthcare and over-servicing can lead to rapid cost escalation, a financially unsustainable healthcare system and poorer health outcomes in the long term.”
“The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) currently recognises six reference agencies – the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia, Swissmedic and Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the United Kingdom. This current six reference jurisdictions comprise major markets which typically receive first-wave filings from pharmaceutical companies, of which HSA has established collaborative evaluation process and joint review with. This includes aligned scientific standards for quality, safety and efficacy, as well as access to comprehensive scientific assessment and evaluation reports in English that HSA can rely upon for its verification process. Through these arrangements, we could offer an expedited 60 working days turnaround time for therapeutic product registration, which is fast by international standards. HSA continuously reviews its regulatory framework to ensure patients in Singapore have optimal access to safe and effective therapeutic products. Hence, HSA is in talks with other WHO-listed authorities, including Japan and South Korea, to explore closer regulatory cooperation initiatives.”
“Under the MediSave Maternity Package, MediSave can be used to pay for pre-delivery and delivery expenses as these tend to be more costly. For mothers with post-delivery complications requiring hospitalisation, MediShield Life will provide additional coverage, on top of MediSave. Some mothers may require additional outpatient post-natal services in hospitals or primary care, such as lactation support or post-natal depression screening. The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track the costs of such post-natal care, which tend to be episodic. There are many requests for Medisave to cover more treatments to minimise cash outlay for patients. We need to strike a balance and ensure MediSave adequacy while keeping Central Provident Fund contribution rates reasonable for all. Nevertheless, Singaporeans who face affordability challenges with their post-natal medical care can approach medical social workers in our public hospitals to assess their eligibility for financial assistance, such as MediFund. The MOH will continue to review our financing schemes to ensure maternity services remain affordable.”
“The Government absorbs Goods and Services Tax for medical services and medications for subsidised patients at Government-funded public hospitals, polyclinics and intermediate and long-term care institutions.”
“The requirement for patients to complete Medical Claims Authorisation Forms in order to use their MediSave or insurance policies exists to protect their MediSave monies and their data, as well as to provide flexibility to exercise personal choice. There are two types of authorisation forms. Patients who wish to authorise their current and future treatments at all public healthcare institutions only need to complete the authorisation form for multiple institutions once. Those who prefer to provide authorisation at a specific institution across one or more episodes can use the form for single institution. The public healthcare institutions will prompt patients to sign the Medical Claims Authorisation Form during or after their visit.”
“They may enrol in the MMed(FM) programme, which qualifies family physicians for onward entry to the advanced family medicine training programme, administered by the College of Family Physicians Singapore and which qualifies them to register as Family Medicine Specialists.”
“Family physicians receive training which allows them to provide better care for patients with multiple chronic medical conditions. This is important given the demographic changes in our population and the increasing prevalence of seniors with multiple medical conditions. Doctors enrol in either the Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (GDFM) or the Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) (MMed(FM)) programmes to attain these higher clinical competencies. In 2025, Family Medicine was recognised as a specialty, which recognises a group of senior and experienced family physicians who have completed advanced family medicine training beyond the MMed(FM). These Family Medicine specialists are able to provide care in the community for patients with more complex chronic medical conditions, which would otherwise have been managed by specialists in hospitals. Family Medicine specialists are also able to lead multidisciplinary primary care teams, providing integrated care for their patients with multiple underlying medical conditions, coordinating multidisciplinary care in the community and reducing referrals to hospitals. They will continue to work in partnership with other specialists in the hospitals and refer cases for further management when necessary. Participation in corporate panels are commercial arrangements. All doctors are required to practice within their accredited scope and clinical competencies regardless of any commercial arrangements they enter into. Family physicians with a GDFM are strongly encouraged to pursue further postgraduate training, so as to provide better care for their patients with chronic medical conditions.”
“This question has been addressed in the answer to Questions No 1 to 4 in the Parliament Sitting on 12 January 2026. [Please refer to "Managing Healthcare Insurance Premiums", Official Report, 12 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 12, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“This question has been addressed in the answer to Question No 43 in the Parliament Sitting on 4 November 2025. [Please refer to "Contributing Factors to Rise in Malnutrition among Older Singaporeans", Official Report, 4 November 2025, Vol 96, Issue 9, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Under the National Childhood and Adult Immunisation schedules, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for females aged nine to 26 years for prevention of cervical cancer. To increase vaccination coverage among the young females, a school-based vaccination programme was launched in April 2019. The HPV vaccination rates for females aged 15 years may be found in the Reports on Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore and the Department of Statistics Singapore website. As there is currently no vaccination recommendation for males, the coverage is not tracked. While HPV vaccination also confers protection against HPV-related cancers in males, the incidence among males is many times lower than cervical cancer among females, hence vaccination is not a national recommendation for young males. Nevertheless, males who feel that they are at high risk of getting HPV may consult their doctor on HPV vaccination.”
“According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, the number of one-person households for those aged 65 and above has more than doubled from 2014 to 2024, rising from 42,100 to 87,200 households. Based on a local study published by the Duke-NUS Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE) in 2018, older adults aged 60 and above and who lived alone were twice as likely to report depressive symptoms as those who did not live alone. Under Age Well SG, the Ministry of Health is stepping up efforts to address social isolation by drawing seniors out of their homes and encouraging them to participate in active ageing programmes. The Silver Generation Office conducts outreach to identify at-risk seniors and connect them to community resources, such as Active Ageing Centres, for buddying and befriending services. Seniors with psychological needs will be referred to the community mental health teams for assessment and support.”
“The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) focuses on monitoring key population health indicators on the prevalence of chronic diseases and lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Data collection on self-reported hearing loss from the NPHS is conducted on a rotational basis. The latest available NPHS data on prevalence of self-reported hearing loss in residents is from 2023. Today, healthcare professionals who encounter individuals with suspected hearing loss will conduct the necessary investigation and management, including specialist referrals as appropriate. Based on the Screening Test Review Committee (STRC) 2019 recommendations, screening for hearing loss via audiometry is currently recommended for high-risk groups, such as individuals with exposure to excessive noise, and there is no recommendation for population-level screening for hearing loss. To support early detection of hearing issues among seniors, the Ministry of Health launched Project Silver Screen (PSS) in 2018, a nationwide community functional screening programme that screens seniors aged 60 and above in their vision, hearing and oral health. Seniors identified with abnormalities are referred to services like community hearing clinics for further checks and to obtain assistive devices like hearing aids where required.”
“Currently, under Healthier SG Screening, eligible women aged 50 to 69 years old can undergo fully subsidised breast cancer screening every two years. Women aged 40 to 49 years old can do so too, if their doctor deems it to be clinically appropriate. The incidence of breast cancer has steadily increased over the last few decades across age groups, including younger women in their 40s, and the Ministry of Health will continue to review the evidence and screening recommendations.”
“The two merging private nursing home operators will account for around 10% of the total nursing home market. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore has assessed that the merger does not result in a substantial loss of competition in the provision of nursing home services. One of the key reasons is that under the Build-Own-Lease model, Government fully funds the capital costs of development and appoints both private and non-private operators for the facility through competitive tenders, which lowers the barrier to entry for nursing home operators and supports the diversity of options. The distribution of Government operating subvention to private operators is generally proportionate to their subsidised market share.”
“In general, subsidies at public Specialist Outpatient Clinics are differentiated by per capita household income, rather than age, so that more help can go to lower income families. For lower income patients who have more complex conditions with higher outlay, they can access additional Government support such as MediFund. MediSave can be used to pay for certain costly outpatient treatments, such as outpatient scans to diagnose and treat medical conditions, including those not listed on the Chronic Disease Management Programme. We will be raising the annual MediSave limit for scans from $300 to $600 from 1 January 2026. MediSave is also extended to cover screenings that are clinically and cost-effective for the population.”
“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, suitability of primary care in managing these conditions, availability of evidence-based clinical guidelines for appropriate care of the condition and cumulative cost to the patient from long-term treatment. Lupus, Crohn's Disease and Small Fibre Neuropathy are conditions that are less prevalent in our population compared to the conditions listed under CDMP and are primarily managed by specialists in the hospital. Their management involves complex therapies that are not routinely managed in primary care through the CDMP. Even though these conditions are currently not on the CDMP, eligible patients already receive subsidies of up to 75% at Specialist Outpatient Clinics for their treatment and medications. Patients aged 60 years and above can also tap on Flexi-MediSave to pay for treatments and medications, up to the prevailing withdrawal limit.”
“The Health Promotion Board (HPB) regularly assesses compliance with the Healthy Meals in Schools Programme (HMSP) guidelines. From 2020 to 2024, on average, more than half of school canteen stalls fully meet the HMSP guidelines. Common areas of non-compliances include the usage of non-Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) sauces, meat-based products or noodles. HPB shares assessment results with schools and canteen vendors and provides recommendations to canteen stalls on areas for improvement. To help canteen vendors meet the HMSP guidelines, HPB provides resources, such as the HMSP Toolkit for Schools, which includes sample recipes using healthier ingredients and cooking methods.”
“Questions No 20 and 21 have been addressed in the oral reply to Questions No 1 to 4 at the 12 January 2026 Parliament Sitting.”
“Patients may also receive support from primary care doctors under Healthier SG and at Community Health Posts to stay on track with their care plans. Cardiovascular patients may benefit from subsidies of up to 75% for drugs on the Standard Drug List and the Medication Assistance Fund list, including lifelong drugs used to manage cardiovascular conditions. They may also make annual MediSave withdrawals of up to $700 for the management of cardiovascular conditions on the Chronic Disease Management Programme in SOCs and primary care settings, depending on the complexity of their condition. Additionally, seniors aged 60 and above may tap on an additional $400 per year from the Flexi-MediSave scheme. We regularly review these schemes to ensure that patients' treatments are kept affordable at our PHIs. Patients in our PHIs who face affordability challenges after subsidy and MediSave may apply for additional financial assistance, such as MediFund. MOH is committed to providing comprehensive cardiovascular care and ensuring that essential cardiovascular treatments remain accessible and affordable through our healthcare system.”
“Comprehensive cardiovascular care entails prevention, treatment and long-term management. Beyond health promotion efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles, Healthier SG screening provides subsidised screening for diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Eligible Singapore Citizens who are enrolled with Healthier SG enjoy fully subsidised cardiovascular risk factor screening at their enrolled Healthier SG clinic. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also extended subsidies to eligible individuals and their family members to undergo genetic testing for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), as those with FH are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Patients may also consult their doctor on targeted screenings which are clinically appropriate for them based on their risk profile. Based on the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2024, cardiovascular risk factor screening rates among residents have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, with higher screening participation from residents with post-secondary education than residents with primary or secondary education. For patients with cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks, structured follow-up care following hospitalisation is provided at Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) and primary care settings. This includes regular reviews to optimise control of risk factors and lifestyle interventions, such as smoking cessation and dietary modifications. Suitable patients may also be referred to cardiac rehabilitation programmes provided by Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) or social service agencies, such as the Singapore Heart Foundation.”
“Waiting times vary depending on the severity and urgency of patients' conditions. The Ministry of Health does not track the waiting times for allied health services at the national level. Nonetheless, public healthcare institutions have reported a median waiting time of within a day to up to two months, depending on the conditions of the patients, for the five different allied health services.”
“The total number of registered allied health professionals (AHPs) regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) has been growing by about 6% every year, from 6,000 in 2019 to 8,000 in 2024. We expect the numbers to continue to increase at about the same rate, to meet the needs of an ageing population. Currently, the registered AHPs comprise diagnostic radiographers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiation therapists and speech-language therapists. Ministry periodically evaluates the risk profiles of other allied health professions to determine if it is necessary to expand the number of professions. We are working towards requiring psychologists to be registered, focusing on those providing direct care that involves higher-risk assessments and interventions.”
“Public and private hospitals in Singapore maintain infection prevention and control (IPC) systems to detect and manage infectious diseases, in accordance with the National Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines and Standards. Patients are triaged for presence of respiratory symptoms and relevant risk factors at admission points. Hospitals monitor for airborne infectious diseases as part of routine clinical care and conduct testing based on clinical assessment. Patients suspected or confirmed to have airborne infectious diseases are isolated in single or cohort rooms as appropriate. Public hospitals have contingency plans to respond to surges in infectious diseases, and transitional care facilities can be adapted as isolation facilities to augment capacity, where required. Notifiable infectious diseases and clusters of hospital-acquired infections are reported to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA). The CDA works closely with hospitals to ensure timely implementation of response measures. Members of the public can also play their part in protecting patients by avoiding visits to healthcare facilities when unwell, and by practising good hand hygiene and wearing masks when visiting.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) is working with the Institutes of Higher Learning, healthcare institutions and Agency for Integrated Care to incorporate relevant cross-disciplinary competencies into nursing education to support community care. For example, topics on nutrition intervention have been incorporated into general nursing curricula to provide guidance on appropriate dietary choices for patients with chronic health conditions. Community nurses are also trained to detect patients with functional problems early, such as impaired mobility or vision, for prompt escalation. Similarly, residency training for family and rehabilitation physicians includes supporting care in the community, such as identifying available community rehabilitation and support services to refer patients to. This facilitates inter-professional collaboration to deliver holistic care.”
“Again, I will want to remind the Member that because of the ageing population, demand has been going up. There has also been a trend, a secular trend of private hospital patients moving to public. So, whatever problem that the Member is painting now, it has been happening for the last 15, 20 years. And it is an issue we are most concerned about. We have spoken in this Chamber, many times how we are expanding capacity, ensuring people are healthy, moderating the demand by controlling chronic diseases. But IP riders are an additional fuel to the fire that we are facing, which is, mainly, an ageing population pushing up healthcare demand. So, we will continue to expand the system and take a multi-prong approach to both increase supply and moderating the demand for healthcare, especially unnecessary treatment and wastage.”
“The IP rider has become a problem and we are taking action. And I think that shows accountability that when something is not sustainable, not working in the best interest of the patients and people, we will take action. Between MAS and MOH, I think we have plenty of levers and we will work together to make sure that insurers are operating in a way that is ethical, that is viable but at the same time in the interest of patients and the people we serve. And I think we have more than enough levers to do so. There is a part of Mr Tiong's question that talks about panel doctors. What we want to make sure is that Government's main responsibility is actually to run the public healthcare system to ensure universal accessibility. But when it comes to private healthcare, we let the market operate. But if the market cannot operate in a laissez-faire manner, we will regulate. Where we regulate is clinical effectiveness, safety, and key parameters that are sensible and make the system sustainable, and there is no market failure. But we should not be tempted to become micro-managing, because it is the worst thing to do to say that we leave it to the market, but we micro-manage all their actions and behaviour. I think that is the worst of both worlds. Then, you might as well nationalise it. But we already have a huge nationalised system in public healthcare. So, for private healthcare, control the important levers, control the key parameters, but let the market operate.”
“Wait times are very important to us, capacity adequacy is very important to us and their well-being is very important to us.”
“Let me briefly address the comment that Dr Hamid made towards the end of his question, which is to hope that insurers do not unilaterally make premium hikes. But these are private contracts. The Government does not regulate their premiums. And when insurance companies find that cost is going up and they are barely making – most of them are actually making losses on their private hospital insurance portfolio – they will end up raising premiums. This is something we are watching, but this is a commercial arrangement, something that they may do. I thank the Member for raising the concerns of his colleagues in the public healthcare system. I am totally with them. I am equally concerned as them, which is why we are making this move. Because, as I mentioned earlier, over 10, 15 years, the shift is very discernible, away from private into public and as I mentioned, a key reason is the rising cost in private hospitals. And why is cost rising? It is because IP riders are fuelling that cost increase, shifting people from private to public. It makes a lot more sense when someone who has the ability to buy private healthcare insurance, including a rider, wants to use private insurance. But half of them, today, switch to public subsidised care, for whatever reasons. It will help the entire system and in particular, the public healthcare system, if more of them who can afford it, stay with private hospital care. And so, private hospital care has to become more accessible, more affordable. But we cannot do that without this adjustment in IP rider policy. So, please tell your colleagues that my and my colleagues in MOH's assurance is that we are watching this closely.”
“There are a few questions in that question, I think. But if I were to suss out what are the key questions, one is, you want to have continuity of care. So, be assured, even if they find that, today, they cannot afford their IP rider anymore, because it is getting expensive and they give it up, there is always public subsidised healthcare. That is our assurance to all Singaporeans. You can always come back to public healthcare. And we are expanding the system; we are recruiting manpower. While we are very busy, this is our commitment to all Singaporeans. So, on the healthcare front, be assured that it is always universal healthcare through the public health system. As for others, who continue to stay on their riders, I think they are also feeling the pinch. As I mentioned to Mr Yip just now, IP rider premiums are going up at a very fast rate because cost is going up at a very fast rate. And why is cost going up? Because there is over-generous coverage, leading to overconsumption, unnecessary treatment. So, many existing rider policyholders are also rethinking. I hope more would do so. Increasingly, over dinner tables, amongst friends and colleagues, more people are thinking about their rider policies, that they may not be worth it. And more and more people do their calculations and find that it is not worth it. And as it is, 100,000 every year are changing. With these changes, with this signalling, I think more may do so. At some point, insurance companies have to do their calculations. Year to year, they do change their terms and conditions, and we have to see what they intend to do with existing rider policyholders.”
“For someone in their 70s, that is a lot. That is $3,000 a year! Someone in their 60s saves about $2,000 a year. That money saved – it differs from case to case – often is more than enough to pay the deductibles and co-payment.”
“The most important safeguard is to make sure that IP rider policies are sustainable. So, while at the point of being sold the policies, the agent probably told them, "Buy all these for peace of mind – not just peace of mind, but absolute peace of mind, you do not have to worry". But that went down a path of unsustainability. So, while you enjoy it for a while, it is obvious, through my answer, that I have explained, it is becoming unsustainable. Because when there is over-coverage, in a private hospital, the bill just goes up. You cannot blame anybody; it is just the way human nature is. Somebody else is paying for most of the bill, so between doctor and patient, somehow, you will oversupply and I will overconsume. And the bill just keeps on going up at an unsustainable pace. And it still comes back to the consumer, to the patient, in terms of higher premiums – which is why, now, the same residents that gave the Member the feedback, is also screaming, "Why is my IP rider premium going up at 20% a year?" It is because cost is going up. We need to tackle the issue at the root and our strong hypothesis is – in fact, there is a lot of literature on this – over-coverage just leads to wastage and cost increases. To redress this, for new riders, we are making the design different, a bit more co-payment, instil discipline in both the supply and demand for healthcare; then, I think we are much more likely to have a more sustainable position. So, explain to your residents: choose this new rider; tell them they are paying very high premiums, rising premiums now for a tail risk, and it may not be worth it. Do their calculations, talk to their financial advisors. If they choose the new rider design, they save, on average, 30% on premiums every year.”
“Doctor panels are an example of cost-management measures put in place by the market, by insurers in response to rising private healthcare bills and claims. MOH has been and will continue working with key stakeholders including insurers, healthcare providers, hospitals, medical professionals and consumer representatives through the Multilateral Healthcare Insurance Committee on these matters, to strike a balance between the interests of all stakeholders. To sum up, we must take a long-term and balanced view of this issue so that we can put private healthcare and insurance on a more sustainable path.”
“As I explained earlier, this change is part of our efforts to mitigate the shift of patients from private to public healthcare that has happened over the last 10 to 15 years, by putting the private healthcare sector and health insurance on a more sustainable path and ensuring private care remains accessible to Singaporeans in the long term. However, in the short term, as a few Members have expressed concern about, some individuals on the new riders may choose to seek care at public hospitals to reduce their co-payment. We will monitor this closely. Efforts to expand public health capacity – both in terms of hospital beds and outpatient capacity – are already ongoing to support the demands of an ageing population. If need be, we may need to implement surge capacity for selected treatments. On Mr Kenneth Tiong’s question relating to the regulation of IP insurers, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) work closely together in exercising regulatory oversight of IP insurers, to ensure that policyholders’ interests are protected and the products are sustainable. MOH’s key role is to oversee the development and operation of the public healthcare system and ensure universal access to healthcare. For individuals who prefer private healthcare and purchase private insurance, we should not micro-manage or prescribe the market practices. Instead, we set requirements pertaining to the key parameters of IPs and riders, such as co-payment and deductible requirements, to ensure that the schemes are sustainable. We only step in when we see a serious market failure emerging, which is why we have intervened in this case, to tighten the design of IP riders.”
“In reality, these need not be out-of-pocket cash payments because patients can tap on their MediSave. We project that six in 10 rider claimants should not have to pay cash out-of-pocket after MediSave. For the remaining four in 10, majority of those with cash out-of-pocket would pay $1,000 or less, and practically all will pay $3,000 or less. We should bear in mind that most of the affected claimants that I am talking about pertain to private hospital patients. Their IP rider premiums have been driven up so high that under the new design, many can expect significant premium savings which can more or less offset the higher co-payments. In short, the current design of IP riders may no longer make financial sense for many policyholders and this change will help redress the situation. Let me give you an example. A 60-year-old on a private hospital IP and rider with maximum coverage, can now save about $1,600 a year in premiums by switching to the new rider. Over three years, he would have saved $4,800 in cash, which would be more than sufficient to offset the increase in co-payment for a typical procedure – for instance, $3,300 for a knee joint replacement surgery in a private hospital. Ms Poh asked about support measures for families facing unaffordable out-of-pocket expenses. Patients should consider their financial and healthcare needs when choosing where to seek care, including seeking subsidised care in public hospitals should affordability become an issue. Third impact, there should be, in the medium to long term, changes in the respective utilisation of private and public care and wait times.”
“To Dr Hamid’s question on the indicators that we used as a basis to decide policies, the data and signs have been clear and the situation is not ideal and not sustainable. We have been actively expanding healthcare infrastructure and expanding manpower in order to cope with rising workload and manage wait times. Our plans are significant, I have made them public before and I will not repeat here. To Mr Yip’s question, the new requirements for IP riders will only affect policyholders who purchased riders on or after 27 November 2025. Individual IP insurers will decide on their approach for rider policyholders who purchased their plans before 27 November 2025. As for affected IP riders, and these are the new ones, we should expect the following changes. First, IP rider premiums under the new design should be lower, on average 30% lower, compared to existing policies with maximum coverage. This is a significant recurrent saving. Second, the new IP rider policies will not cover the minimum IP deductibles and also require higher co-payment. We share Members’ concerns about patients’ out-of-pocket costs, especially for large medical bills. But this is precisely the main aim of the rider changes: preserve the protection against very large, unexpected medical bills, but disallow coverage of the minimum deductible, which is a fixed sum, which users of private hospitals tend to be able to afford. This would help restore health insurance to its original objective, which is to provide assurance against large, infrequent, often unexpected healthcare bills, rather than the small bills. For a rider plan designed with the new requirements, there will still be a cap of 5% co-payment up to $6,000 a year, in addition to the deductibles.”
“My response will also address written Parliamentary Questions raised by Dr Hamid Razak in today's Order Paper, and a similar question raised by Ms Mariam Jaafar scheduled for a subsequent Sitting. If the Members are satisfied with the response, they may wish to withdraw their questions after this session. Let me first try to put everyone on the same page. Over the past few years, patient load has been shifting from private hospitals to public hospitals. In 2010, the split between private and public was 15:85. In 2020, it became 12:88. Now, it is 10:90. The issue of insurance and insurance riders is not the reason why patient load is shifting from private to public. This has been happening for the last 15 years and there are many reasons. Part of it is that as people get older, some of them prefer public hospitals, where there are more disciplines and more holistic care. Another key reason is the escalating cost of private healthcare. That is in turn fuelled by Integrated Shield Plan (IP) riders, which provide overly generous health insurance coverage, and that leads to a greater tendency for over-servicing and over-consumption of healthcare services. Higher private healthcare cost is translated into higher private hospital IP rider premiums. IP premiums for private hospital have been growing at an average rate of 17% annually for the past three years – it is double that of IP premiums and even higher compared to MediShield Life premiums. Hence, every year, about 100,000 policyholders cancel or downgrade their IP rider policies. And I suspect amongst them, many switched from using private to public hospitals.”
“Between 2012 to 2024, the Institute of Mental Health's (IMH's) Job Club has emplaced 1,722 IMH patients in various jobs, which is an average of 132 per year. Of these 1,722 patients, 46 remained employed in the same job for at least three years, while others may have maintained employment with various employers during the same period.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track cross-border land-based Emergency Ambulance conveyances and the average waiting time for such transfers. MOH is currently working with relevant agencies to assess the feasibility of a potential accreditation scheme for foreign private ambulance operators.”
“The Healthier Food Donation Recommendation (HFDR) guides organisations and individual donors to select healthier food products for donation packs, to promote a balanced and nutritious diet for beneficiaries. There is no requirement for donation packs to be endorsed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB). However, HPB receives enquiries from donors on meeting the HFDR guidelines. We encourage donors to include items from all main food groups, including sufficient sources of protein and fibre, and to limit discretionary foods, such as beverages, snacks, and sauces and condiments that are high in sodium, saturated fat and sugar.”
“As addressed in the written reply to the Parliamentary Question raised by Mr Gabriel Lam at the 5 November 2025 Parliament Sitting, the increase in influenza activity since August 2025 is not unexpected. [Please refer to "Factors Contributing to Early Seasonal Surge of Influenza Cases and Prevention Strategies", Official Report, 5 November 2025, Vol 96, Issue 10, Written Answers to Questions section.] The Ministry of Health (MOH) works closely with general practitioners and polyclinics to incorporate influenza vaccination into routine preventive care, with subsidy coverage for eligible individuals. In particular, providers have been advised to encourage vulnerable groups, including children, seniors and individuals with medical conditions, to get influenza vaccination. MOH also works with nursing homes to offer influenza vaccination to their residents. Our public hospitals manage high patient volumes daily. During surges, they tap on alternative care models to manage any strain if they emerge, such as the Mobile Inpatient Care at Home (MIC@Home) for suitable patients, and the Transitional Care Facilities (TCFs) for medically stable patients.”
“General Practitioners (GPs) must be part of the Mental Health General Practitioner Partnership (MHGPP) programme, to be accredited to submit MediSave claims for mental health treatments under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). The MHGPP programme ensures that GPs have the adequate training and experience to manage patients with mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in the community. All GPs can apply to this programme, as long as they have the necessary qualifications or clinical experience in mental healthcare. Mental health conditions beyond CDMP are not MediSave-claimable. However, patients may still receive subsidies of up to 75% at polyclinics and specialist outpatient clinics for such non-CDMP conditions. Patients aged 60 years and above can also tap on Flexi-MediSave to pay for these treatments and medications, up to the prevailing withdrawal limit.”
“Polyclinic dental services already provide denture fabrication, repair and fitting services. However, complex denture cases that require specialist management are referred to tertiary institutions. The Ministry of Health has recently announced higher subsidies for root canal treatments and permanent crowns. MediSave can be used for these treatments for those aged 60 and above in 2026, once the information technology systems are configured. We will continue to review the coverage of MediSave. It is important to strike a balance between improving affordability and ensuring that individuals have enough MediSave set aside to meet their future healthcare needs, especially major acute episodes that tend to happen in old age.”
“The median waiting time, from point of referral or walk-in to first mental health intervention by Youth Integrated Teams (YITs) and Youth Outreach Teams (CREST-Youth) is about a week. These teams cater to youths aged 12 to 25 years old, who are in secondary schools up to the Institutes of Higher Learning. Children, including primary school students, who need specialised interventions for addictions may be referred by School Counsellors to the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) teams. Alternatively, these youths may attend specialised counselling programmes offered by community service providers, such as TOUCH and WE CARE. Education and upstream prevention through healthy lifestyle habits remain a key strategy in tackling problematic digital and technology use among children, including primary school students. In schools, cyber wellness lessons in the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum teach students to maintain a healthy balance of online and offline activities, including managing the use of digital devices and the impact of excessive use on their mental, social and emotional well-being.”
“Government has decided to take firm enforcement action against etomidate abuse. Just like drugs, etomidate is very harmful to the individuals and to their families and loved ones. However, given that many etomidate abusers are young people who inadvertently picked up the habit through peers, the Ministry of Health is providing them a chance to come forward to seek help to quit the habit and no enforcement actions will be taken against them. They can turn over a new leaf. But if caught, they can be subject to severe penalties. Hence, this is not a medical service, subject to the convenience of the individual seeking support. We hope to see commitment and desire amongst the abusers to correct their mistakes. It must, therefore, follow that appointments are scheduled based on the availability of the National Addictions Management Service professionals.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides broad guidance to Public Healthcare Institutions to set fees to recover operating costs, after Government subsidy, and to maintain their quality of care and service to patients. Hospital bill information for surgical procedures and inpatient medical conditions are published on MOH's website. MOH has explained in the written reply to Parliamentary Question 21 for the Sitting on 14 October 2025 that Integrated Shield Plans and riders are mainly designed for private healthcare, and do not have much impact within public healthcare. [Please refer to "Preventing Spill-over Effects of Unsustainable Private Insurance Practices into Public Hospital Charges and Keeping Premiums Affordable", Official Report, 14 October 2025, Vol 96, Issue 7, Written Answers to Questions section.]”