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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“The Government commissions several studies and surveys, and takes into account other studies on caregivers. Commissioned studies include the (a) Quality of Life Study; (b) Disability and Inclusion Panel Study; (c) National Population Health Survey; and (d) Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) Study. The data collected includes caregivers' prevalence of chronic conditions, usage of support services, caregiving burden, quality of life, mental well-being scores as well as their care recipient's quality of life. We do not track caregiver burnout, but track caregiver burden as part of tracking the effectiveness of various programmes and services. The studies have shown that caregivers of certain care recipient profiles experience greater stress. A 2020 survey by the Singapore Management University found that three in four caregivers were tired caring for persons with mental health issues; the WiSE Study 2023 found that caregivers of persons living with dementia had higher care burden than caregivers of those without dementia; and other studies indicate that caregivers feel unprepared to care for stroke patients post-discharge. The Government works with community partners to improve support for caregivers and address gaps identified. For instance, the public hospitals provide training to caregivers to equip caregivers with the skills and confidence to care for their loved ones, so they are better prepared for their caregiving responsibilities. As caregiver stress was also found to be a concern, the Government has developed resources, like the Community Outreach Teams (CREST) Community Intervention Teams (COMIT), to provide caregivers with psychosocial support, including through peer support networks and relevant mental health interventions.”
“Caregivers can also turn to relevant peer support groups for socio-emotional support, such as the Caregiver Support Network organised by Community Outreach Teams which cater to caregivers who have or are at risk of developing depressive and anxiety symptoms and burnout. For caregivers who are ready to return to work, they can tap on SkillsFuture courses and Workforce Singapore's employment facilitation and reskilling initiatives, such as Career Conversion Programmes, at any point in their caregiving journey. For employed caregivers, the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) Requests supports employers to provide FWAs, to help caregivers manage work aspirations and caregiving needs.”
“The Government has in place a range of measures to support caregivers on their caregiving journey. Public education efforts are in place to prepare potential caregivers. For example, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) launched the "We See You Care campaign" in 2023, to raise awareness of the different support measures for caregivers of seniors, including subsidised training courses. The Families for Life Council supports parents and caregivers of children by equipping them with parenting and grandparenting skills and knowledge. At the onset of caregiving, caregivers can access support and resources at various touchpoints. AIC Links are nationwide touchpoints where caregivers of seniors can receive advice on caregiver training courses and be connected to long-term care and respite services. Parents and caregivers of newborns will be supported by hospital staff at point of hospital discharge, with a range of resources provided through digital platforms, such as LifeSG. Preschool services also help parents balance work and caregiving responsibilities. Financial support is also available to offset caregiving costs. As announced at Budget 2025, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will enhance means-tested subsidies for long-term care services and grants, like the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund and Home Caregiving Grant. For families with young children, the Government has been reducing fee caps at Government-supported preschools over the years, in addition to providing preschool subsidies. To support the mental health of caregivers, the Government has enhanced access to support through various First Stops for Mental Health, such as the national mindline 1771.”
“The numbers and percentages of premature live births, defined as births with less than 37 weeks of gestation, in restructured hospitals (KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH)), are shown in Table 1. Over the last five years, the average length of stay of newborns in Neonatal Intensive Care Units of the restructured hospitals is between 154 days and 299 days.”
“Dementia Go-To Points (GTPs) serve as designated safe-return points for persons living with dementia who may be found wandering in the community. Trained staff at GTPs will assist in safely reuniting lost individuals with their families. Additionally, the public can obtain educational resources on dementia at GTPs. For persons with disabilities, their caregivers can apply for a Developmental Disability Registry (DDR) Identity Card. If a person with autism or special needs goes missing, their caregiver should make a Police report. The DDR card contains information of cardholders' caregivers and the social service agencies they are receiving services at, enabling the public to help them return safely if they are disoriented or lost in the community. The initiatives described are designed to meet the distinct needs of their respective target groups.”
“The CARA app is co-developed by Dementia Singapore, the Agency for Integrated Care and the National Council of Social Services. It is linked to DementiaHub.SG website and provides digital resources tailored for caregivers of persons living with dementia, including a feature for caregivers to report their missing loved ones. On the other hand, caregivers of children with autism or persons with special needs can apply for a Developmental Disability Registry (DDR) Identity Card. If a person with autism or special needs goes missing, their caregiver should make a Police report. The DDR card bears contact information of the caregivers and their supporting social service agencies to help facilitate the return of the missing person. The CARA app and DDR Identity Card were designed to meet the distinct needs of their respective target groups.”
“Bills can vary significantly depending on the specific circumstances of patients and their treatments. Comparisons and benchmarking are more meaningful by specifying surgical procedures or medical conditions, and ward settings across hospitals. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has done so, by establishing close to 2,800 professional fee benchmarks for about 2,200 surgical procedures and medical conditions; and publishing annual bill information, broken down by bill components, such as surgeon fees and operating facility charges, so that patients can make informed choices about their healthcare providers. We will study what more can be done to guide fee setting by private hospitals, by expanding fee benchmarks. MOH will also continue to explore measures to manage private healthcare costs through the Multilateral Healthcare Insurance Committee comprising representatives from MOH, private hospitals, insurers and medical professional associations.”
“The Ministry of Health was first alerted to the processing issues in the Household Means Eligibility System (HOMES) following a query from a member of public about her application for subsidies on 13 January 2025. The member of public reported that she was earning business income but had been assessed as not earning any income by HOMES. There are various types of subsidies in healthcare and social services that are means-tested, that is, the levels of subsidies and grants are based on proxies of household means, such as per capita household income of family members staying in the same household. While the subsidy levels and eligibility criteria for various schemes are generally published on the respective agencies' websites, individuals may find it cumbersome to self-verify their subsidies and grants. Individuals can approach their service providers if they have queries. In the meantime, re-assessment of all affected cases have been completed and agencies are actively notifying affected individuals.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) is aware of the UK government's proposed ban and ongoing public consultation. Internationally, there is currently no recognised health-based guidance for caffeine intake or international standards on the amount of caffeine allowed to be added to food. Regardless, caffeine should be consumed in moderation and individuals are advised to limit their intake to avoid adverse side effects. High-caffeine energy drinks, which tend to contain high amounts of sugar and/or sugar substitutes, account for less than 1% of the total sales of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Singapore. The Healthy Meals in Schools Programme restricts the sale of SSBs in schools, hence youths are generally not exposed to such drinks in schools. Currently, there are no local studies being conducted to examine the impact of consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks in youths. MOH and the Health Promotion Board will continue to monitor the developments internationally and encourage Singaporeans to adopt healthier diets overall.”
“About 11% and 16% of seniors above 70 years old have dementia and osteoporosis respectively, based on data in 2023. Care protocols for dementia and osteoporosis are being developed under Healthier SG. The protocols will cover evidence-based screening assessments and clinical management of the conditions.”
“The Ministry of Health has established various first stop touchpoints such as the national mindline 1771, mindline.sg, and the Community Outreach Teams to simplify and enhance access to support for individuals in mental distress. For working adults in particular, the tripartite partners have issued the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health and Well-Being at Workplaces to encourage employers to adopt measures to support the mental well-being of their employees. The Health Promotion Board's Workplace Outreach Wellness Programme provides employers with resources and funding to improve employee mental well-being. Data on suicide deaths is published by the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority annually, based on data from the Registry of Deaths. There is currently no comprehensive data source for suicide attempts.”
“MediSave withdrawal limits are reviewed regularly. For example, this year, we announced that the withdrawal limits for the Flexi-MediSave Scheme and Outpatient Scans will be raised from $300 to $400, and $300 to $600 respectively. Flexi-MediSave will also be extended to costlier dental treatments, like root canals and permanent crowns. The objective of MediSave is to help Singaporeans save for their future healthcare needs, especially for major acute episodes, which tend to happen when one grows old. Enhancements to MediSave are therefore considered carefully to strike a balance between defraying current healthcare expenditure and ensuring that Singaporeans have enough MediSave to meet their future healthcare needs.”
“This question has been answered at the Sitting on 22 September 2025. The Ministry of Health is reviewing the longer-term legislation needed to adapt to the new landscape of e-vaporisers. This will include reviewing the appropriate penalties for suppliers of e-vaporisers of all kinds. We plan to enact this new legislation in the first quarter of 2026.”
“We adopt a whole-of-society strategy to address the issue of suicides. We have run public education campaigns to address stigma and normalise help-seeking; trained peer supporters and frontline personnel to identify and support those in crises; and built up resilience among our youths through school-based programmes. More recently, we implemented the national mindline 1771 to provide 24/7 access for those in distress. The National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, launched by the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being in October 2023, supports all segments of our population via a Tiered Care Model based on severity of mental health needs and the corresponding intensity of interventions required. We will continue to review the effectiveness of our measures.”
“In 1963, this was a much smaller Chamber with 13 Barisan Sosialis Members, minority, small minority. But they stood for a different vision, with different sets of policies. They disagreed with the PAP on big issues of the day – merger with Malaysia, teaching of language, particularly Chinese, National Service. After 1965, of course, it then became PAP-dominant. But over the years, we saw WP come some way – from one to two single seats, they now have two GRCs, plus a couple of single seats and two NCMPs. Mr Pritam Singh is now the Leader of the Opposition. There is no chance of a wipeout, in our view, and people expect WP to play an important role. And in this GE2025, the WP were quite close to winning another two GRCs. Next election, no doubt, it will be even more tough. And when you have come this far, I do believe the people will demand and Singapore will need WP to come up with alternate policies, as in the past, Barisan Sosialis did with a small number of seats. I say all these not that I wish it will come true. But should WP really rise to the occasion and do this and be able to stand and contest the ruling party as the democrats and republicans do each other in the US, or Tories and Labour do each other in UK, actually, life will be harder for PAP. Contest will be so much more intense. People will be so much more discerning with who they choose. But it is the right political direction for Singapore; focus our energy. I take the Member's point about "jaw-jaw" and "war-war". We are not really fighting, but we are arguing. We are presenting different views. We are arguing the merits and trade-offs of those directions, and those visions when Singaporeans choose. If we focus our energy on such discourse, I think it is the right direction for Singapore. [Applause.]”
“That we decided to set up a Statutory Board, gather as many volunteers as we can, and gauge the ground, bring communities together, help the children grow up well, help parents cope with parenting, help the seniors stay healthy, promote exercise – none of this is in the law or Constitution. But we do that to help our constituencies and our residents. Citizenship ceremony is one such event. I do not know of any country where you become a new citizen, the grassroots hold an event and talk to you about being Singaporean, what it means and then sing the national anthem and gather together. So, these are all part of the PAP policies to engage the ground. The Leader of Opposition talks about no chance of a wipeout. In the hearts of Singaporeans, they know that there is no chance of a wipeout. And reading the ground, we know there is no chance of a wipeout. The desire for a check on the PAP is very strong, precisely because we have a good majority. And that desire is so strong we see cases all the time, like what I mentioned, the couple at the tze char stall, friendly to us, like what we are doing, "want you to be Government", want me to continue as Health Minister, but "I am not voting for him, I need to support the opposition". You have a role here. The opposition has a role in the governance of Singapore, and we have to take that seriously and accept there is no chance of a wipeout. There is no equilibrium, it is a dynamic balance. From term to term, people will have a different balance in their mind, but we must accept that people now want the PAP government; for now, they want the PAP government, but they also want an opposition presence. Mr Pritam Singh talked about our circumstances being different from the UK or US.”
“Certainly. It should not quite be presented as clarifications, so I will try to respond in general. The people demand many things of us, both as ruling party as well as opposition. I think the people will increasingly demand coherent alternatives from WP, put together principles, philosophies. What is your vision? What is the pathway? How do we get there? What is the set of policies? And to your credit from time to time you have mentioned some of them but the people will demand coherent set of consistent policies and principles. And they will demand likewise PAP to do better and for all their demands, we will have to reflect, "What can we do better for the people? The Leader of Opposition mentioned a couple of his pet peeves, one is boundaries coming out a month and a half before the election. I should say this: most PAP MPs in this House, when the boundaries reports come out, everyone scrambles, we were equally scrambling. Whenever the boundaries come out, suddenly you have an SMC, suddenly you have to form another division, re-deploy your volunteers. We may have an advantage because we are present in every constituency, so maybe there is an advantage there. But we are also scrambling every time the boundaries reports come out. But we know it is necessary. The population changes, new developments, a group of civil servants look at the data and they propose new boundaries. We have to let them do their job and adapt to it. The Leader of Opposition mentioned PA and citizenship ceremony. I will just say, under the Constitution and the law, an elected MP has two functions. One is to be a legislator in this House, the other is to manage the Town Council. There is no PA. PA and grassroots work is a policy of the PAP Government.”
“The Health Promotion Board, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development launched the Parenting for Wellness initiative in September 2024. The website has reached 69,000 unique visitors, with over 2,700 users signing up for the personalised dashboard which recommends learning modules and tracks their progress. The Government and partners have distributed over 76,000 copies of the Parenting for Wellness Toolbox through digital downloads and physical copies at events such as the Digital for Life Festival, National Family Festival and Singapore Mental Health Conference. This initiative has received positive feedback from parents who find the resources relevant and practical. Family life educators and student welfare officers also shared that the resources will support their work with families. We will continue to work closely with partners to refine and improve the resources on the platform, to ensure it meets parents' evolving needs.”
“The current median waiting time for appointments at the Institute of Mental Health is 25 days across all channels of referral.”
“The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) conducts monthly assessments of its Main Line and Outpatient Appointment Line as part of service quality monitoring. The abandonment rates and average handling times of IMH's Main Line and Outpatient Appointment Line grew in recent months, mainly due to growing call volumes and transition of a major information technology system at this hospital. IMH has put in place measures to improve call management, such as ramping up and redeploying manpower, and improving operational processes. Caller satisfaction data will be tracked from late-2025 through post-call surveys.”
“The data for Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) cycles from 2021 to 2023 is in Table 1.”
“The Ministry of Health does not track the number of in-vitro fertilisation embryos discarded due to divorce between couples or death of spouse. If the Assisted Reproduction centres are informed of such circumstances, the embryo(s) will be donated or discarded in accordance with the couple’s written instructions obtained before embryo(s) storage.”
“As of June 2025, the utilisation rate for the subsidised home nursing service is about 80%. Home nursing capacity is reviewed regularly to ensure adequate capacity to meet the demand.”
“Efforts such as Grow Well SG are universal, covering all children. Hence, they are designed to benefit the lower income the most, who would otherwise not have access to such preventive health services and guidance. Specifically, all Primary 1 to 3 students receive personalised Health Plans with Lifestyle Prescription through the Health Promotion Board’s annual school health screening exercise. We plan to expand the initiative to other age groups progressively. At the same time, we have partnered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to strengthen health support for ComLink+ families and their children. Together, we are nudging ComLink+ families to inculcate healthy habits for their children from young, take preventive health actions, and help them access the appropriate health services.”
“These questions have been addressed in oral reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos 7 to 11 in the 22 September 2025 sitting. [Please refer to "Number of Vape-related Arrests Made, and Update on Enforcement, Preventive and Rehabilitative Measures for Tackling Vaping", Official Report, 22 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 2, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has not detected any cases where prohibited tobacco products were purchased from SnusAsia website and shipped to Singapore. HSA is working with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), to block SnusAsia website as it is in breach of the ban on tobacco advertisements under Tobacco (Control of Advertisement and Sales) Act. HSA monitors the online sale of prohibited tobacco products closely and collaborates with IMDA, local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down online listings that are selling these products to Singapore. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority detects and seizes illegal imports of prohibited tobacco products at the checkpoints.”
“These questions are regarding the current state of private healthcare and insurance. Insurers, private hospitals, and providers have got themselves tied up in a knot, resulting in escalating private hospital bills, rising premiums and more safeguards introduced to the claims process. The concerns raised by Members point back to this deeper issue, which I will address in detail at the subsequent Sitting, together with other similar Parliamentary Questions filed.”
“The first question, simple answer is, if you consume it overseas as a Class C drug, under MDA, you are still liable for penalty. That is the position we take for all drugs. Second is, for youths without Singpass, use the telephone. I know there were instances when the operator on the line say, "Can you please send it via the form?" Probably because in the course of the conversation, the youth might have said, "I got photos to show." Because once you have photos, you have got to go to the actual form, which then requires Singpass. But if you do not have Singpass, just tell the operator, I have a case to report. It will be admitted and we will take action appropriately. I just want to touch on the point that Mr de Souza raised earlier about being fast. I take that point totally. We are going to come to the House to propose a new legislation under MOH. It can be new, or it can be an amendment of existing legislation, but it will provide us with the legal powers to act faster. Even in the absence of total or of comprehensive clinical data on harm, on addiction, on dependence, we can take action first under MOH's powers with the collaboration of other agencies, to require mandated rehabilitation, mandated supervision. It is a matter of legislation; the legislation do provide for faster response and I think with the new legislation coming next year, do debate on it, give us your perspective and I think, it will improve the situation.”
“IMH does a lot of things, with different departments. So, the department for cessation, which is called National Addictions Management Service (NAMS), have their dedicated resources. So, they will not be using resources that are used to treat or to help mental illness cases. That said, we are just starting our operations. If there is a need for more resources, we will beef them up. As for youths, we are working closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the SSAs, such as WeCare and Fei Yue, who have experience working with youths. They are already starting operations on cessation programmes for youths.”
“The good thing is that smoking prevalence has been dropping in Singapore continuously. The latest survey showed that prevalence among adults – "adults" meaning aged 15 and above – is 8.8%. It is a historical low and one of the lowest in the world. [Please refer to "Clarification by Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health", Official Report, 22 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 2, Correction By Written Statement section.] We will continue to encourage people not to smoke. And Singaporeans are responding to it. We should also remember that tobacco has been around for 200 years. When it first started, people did not know the harm that it can cause. Today, we know but it has taken root and become part of society's behaviour. But we will have to continue to work on reducing the prevalence of smoking.”
“We have had some informal consultations and we hope ASEAN, at some point, can take a concerted stance. This is something that we want to work towards. In the meantime, we do see more and more ASEAN countries banning vapes, Malaysia being the latest to attempt to do so, and we will share our information and our experiences with them. Hopefully, at some point, we will have a stronger ASEAN common stance.”
“For precursors, I assume you meant the derivatives of etomidate. They are all listed as part of the Class C drug under MDA, they have already been listed. But if we have missed out something, do let us know and we will include them. The second question, I think we just have to be tough on all forms of substance abuse so that one does not become the substitute of the other. This is an area where MHA will obviously know a lot better. But right now, as I have mentioned, e-vaporisers have changed the landscape. Now, you have got something very recreational, a delivery device – from delivering lychee-flavoured nicotine, to etomidate to cannabis. So, you have a range of stuff that can be delivered through this device. When someone is using a vape, you do not know what he or she is consuming. Because of that, MHA and MOH will have to work closely together, so that we cover all bases. So, whatever substance abuse is out there, we take firm action against them, so that one does not become a substitute for the other.”
“On the first question, I assume the Member is asking whether there are other substances that are delivered through e-vaporisers. We have seen them in other countries – cannabis, for example; in Australia, we saw fentanyl. So, we have to observe this carefully and, as Mr de Souza mentioned, be very vigilant, list them quickly, do not allow them to take root. As for the next question, about MOE, I think I will answer on behalf of MOE, their measures are over and above what the law has provided. If a student is caught using etomidate through e-vaporisers, he will be required to go through the rehabilitation programme, either at IMH or one of our SSA partners. On top of that, MOE will, through their own in-house school discipline system, impose other punishments, such as suspension.”
“The Member wrote to me about this case. This is one of those cases that fell through the cracks during that transition period. Right now, with etomidate listed in MDA, we close the loophole. Next year, we will have new legislation.”
“The classification of etomidate under MDA is done under MHA. But I take the Member's point. We have to act as fast as we can. The process does take some time when the new substance enters a community. You have to observe who is taking it, will it fizzle out or will it start to take root and grow. Ketamine, for example, did not take root. At the same time, we have to observe the clinical evidence. How harmful is it? How addictive is it? And how dependent does someone become? So, all these take a bit of time. But I take the Member's point. We have to act as quickly as we can.”
“We coordinate all these. In fact, more than the SPF. Today, SPF, HSA, ICA, CNB, the National Environment Agency, Land Transport Authority, MOE, Gambling Regulatory Authority, all the officers are empowered now to take actions against etomidate related offences. As the Member mentioned, there were instances in the past, because etomidate fell between the legal cracks, which is why there was a point that the SPF did not feel they were empowered to enforce; yet, it falls under HSA. But HSA finds that our penalties, if we catch someone possessing or using etomidate, the penalties are not stringent enough, which is why we took the step of listing etomidate as a Class C drug in MDA. So, we closed the loophole. But this is temporary. As I mentioned, early next year, we want to pass new legislation to make the necessary provision to enforce against this.”
“Never think that just because we are worried about underground activities, so therefore, legalise and regulate. That is what other countries have done when it comes to controlled drugs; and look where they are, and look where we are. So, I think we have always taken a tough stance against drugs. I do not know why I am answering this, but I think it is a correct approach to take. Things do go underground and MHA, with our tough laws, will take very tough actions against them. So, likewise for etomidate. Do not fall for harm reduction arguments, ban it, enforce it; if it goes underground, we will go after you.”
“I think the challenge is not one of resource, but through the Internet and messaging platforms, they proliferate very easily and they do not necessarily have a presence in Singapore for you to able to get hold of them and take them to task. So, it is a big cat and mouse game. We will continue to do so. We have shut down so many of them – I reported it in my reply – and working together with the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), as well as the tech platforms. But most importantly, the culture of avoiding substance abuse must take root in our society. What has been very comforting is that ever since we launched this new whole-of-Government approach to tackling etomidate vaping, the public has been very supportive. Schools, institutions, SSAs and even the youths amongst themselves are very supportive. So, we hope we continue to uphold this behaviour and this culture, and I think that is the best defence against substance abuse.”
“Sir, as mentioned in my reply just now, 6,000 vapes and their components have been surrendered through the "Bin The Vape" programme. More have been surrendered earlier but we did not keep track of them. As for volunteers who gave up vapes since we announced the new policies, 74 have come forward, as I mentioned in my reply. Which Ministry will coordinate between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MOH, we will work closely together to coordinate. The landscape has changed. It used to be either you smoke and vape, or you take drugs. Two separate sets of people. But now you have a vape device, it is a delivery device that contains the drugs. The front end is controlled by MOH, controlled substance is regulated by MHA. So, the landscape has changed. The two Ministries have to work closely together and coordinate this.”
“Students learn about the harms of vaping, recognise impulsive and addictive behaviours and pick up strategies for self-control, help-seeking and managing negative peer influences. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is also engaging parents, including through the Parents Gateway. While we have listed etomidate in the MDA, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is reviewing the longer-term legislation needed to adapt to this new landscape. The new legislation will provide legal powers to enforce against e-vaporisers of all kinds, provide for mandatory rehabilitation and supervision regimes, and set appropriate penalties for users and suppliers. We plan to enact the new legislation in the first quarter of 2026, to continue to support this whole-Of-Government approach to protect Singaporeans from the harmful effects caused by e-vaporisers.”
“We have implemented the following. First, the "Bin The Vape" initiative. About 6,000 e-vaporisers and components were collected between July and August. These devices have been properly disposed of; no testing was done of their contents because that will take up a lot of our testing resources. "Bin the Vape" was meant to be a time-limited initiative. We have since reduced the number of bins and located them in specific locations, such as border checkpoints and where rehabilitation programmes are provided. Second, we introduced or stepped up rehabilitation programmes, namely the QuitVape and I Quit programmes, to support users to kick the habit. From 1 September to 14 September, 74 persons have signed up for these programmes. Those who voluntarily surrender e-vaporisers, including etomidate e-vaporisers and seek help, will not be penalised for doing so. This arrangement has continued since 1 September 2025. But as for those who are caught, rehabilitation will be required for all etomidate e-vaporiser offenders and repeat e-vaporiser offenders. The rehabilitation programmes are run by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and social service agencies (SSAs), such as, WE CARE Community Services and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) who have expertise in running cessation programmes. Schools and parents are closely involved in the rehabilitation process for youths, including counselling and supporting the youths. We also need to step up preventive education. We have launched a public anti-vaping campaign. Schools and IHLs are intensifying educational efforts through school curricula, assembly talks and orientation briefings.”
“With more regional countries banning e-vaporisers, we can be more effective in curbing this harmful and addictive habit. Third, listing of etomidate as a Class C Controlled Drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, or MDA. This has sent a clear and strong public message, by elevating the penalties against etomidate-related offences. Together with this, we now have over 10,000 officers empowered to enforce against e-vaporiser-related offences. Agencies have been conducting joint raids at night spots and operations at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). Public vigilance continues to be crucial in enabling offences to be detected. HSA received over 4,600 hotline reports between January and August, and over 1,400 reports through the new online form launched on 21 July. The online form requires Singpass login to prevent spam and ensure report integrity, especially if the reporting member of public wants to upload photos of offenders or locations of offence. For those without Singpass, such as those under 15 years old, they can use the telephone hotline. Because of our strong stance against substance abuse, it is unlikely that production of etomidate e-vaporisers will take root in Singapore. As for the question of phasing out etomidate in medical settings, etomidate remains a useful anaesthetic agent, particularly in emergencies for intubation purposes and we have no plans to phase it out. Its handling has been well-controlled, previously under the Poisons Act and now under the MDA. I mentioned earlier that e-vaporisers have changed the landscape of substance abuse. There are more young people involved, out of curiosity, or succumbing to peer pressure. We want to help this group and have provided opportunities for them to come forward and seek help early.”
“E-vaporisers, which were primarily nicotine delivery devices, were banned in Singapore ever since it was introduced. In the first eight months of this year, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) detected almost 10,000 cases of possession or use and 38 cases of supply of e-vaporisers. Amongst users, more than half are under 25 years old. However, e-vaporisers now carry more dangerous substances, like etomidate, and controlled drugs. This was in fact one of the key considerations when we banned the supply and use of e-vaporisers years ago, and our fears have unfortunately come true. This year, HSA detected 70 cases of possession or use of etomidate e-vaporisers. With e-vaporisers, the landscape of substance abuse has changed. We launched a whole-of-Government response, which we announced on 28 August 2025. The measures include the following. First, curbing upstream import and supply. Over 2,800 online advertisements, including those found on messaging platforms, were removed between January and August this year. Platforms have a legal responsibility to detect and remove advertisements. Those with inadequate processes will face penalties, including fines and imprisonment, under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. Second, enhance border enforcement. The HSA, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) work closely to enforce against smuggling and syndicated activities at our borders. They are also sharing information with their foreign counterparts. Within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) today, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia have banned vaping. We are pleased to learn that Malaysia is making plans to do so too.”
“Since 2022, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has received less than 20 complaints regarding clinical services provided by mental health professionals. These complaints were mainly about quality of care, professional standards and clinical competency. Members of the public who wish to provide feedback on the services or conduct of mental health professionals may do so via the respective professional boards or associations. These include the Singapore Medical Council, the Singapore Nursing Board and the Allied Health Professions Council under MOH for occupational therapists, as well as the Social Work Accreditation and Advisory Board under the Ministry of Social and Family Development. In addition, the Healthcare Services Act regulates the provision of mental health services under licensable healthcare service providers to safeguard patient safety and welfare. The public may also provide feedback on such services to MOH.”
“Advertising controls under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 (HCSA) came into force on 26 June 2023 for non-HCSA licensed healthcare service providers and non-registered healthcare professionals. The advertising controls imposes restrictions on them from advertising treatment of diseases or medical conditions. The restrictions include the use of the title "Doctor" by non-registered healthcare professionals in healthcare advertisements. This requirement is not new and was largely ported over from section 4 of the Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act 1955. The Ministry of Health has received and investigated 34 complaints of alleged breaches of the advertising controls and none were against practitioners in the mental health space.”
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been using both digital and traditional media platforms to conduct public education on our national insurance schemes. We customise the messages according to various demographic groups. In addition, MOH reaches out to seniors through trusted community touchpoints, such as the Agency for Integrated Care and the Silver Generation Office, to explain relevant schemes in a clear and personal manner. We also partner insurers and financial advisors to help Singaporeans improve their understanding of the insurance schemes and support them in making more informed insurance decisions. Unfortunately, despite everything we do, misinformation and falsehoods will still spread, including via personal messaging platforms. When that happens, MOH will try to put out clarifications through digital and traditional platforms to debunk the misinformation as quickly as possible. We also urge the public to verify information found on the Internet against authoritative sources. All of us have a role to play in stemming the spread of misinformation.”
“The Matched MediSave Scheme aims to support Singaporeans, such as homemakers and caregivers, who may not have been able to accumulate MediSave from work to cater to their old age. The scheme is extended to Singaporeans aged 55 to 70 as this group does not benefit as much from the healthcare benefits under the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation Packages and other MediSave top-ups, which are available to seniors aged 71 and above. We will review the parameters of the scheme closer to the end of the five-year pilot phase and decide if further adjustments need to be made.”
“As the incidence of anal cancer amongst males is several times lower than cervical cancer amongst females, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of males to prevent anal cancer does not provide the same level of benefit as for preventing cervical cancer in females. It is, therefore, not likely to be cost effective at the population level. Hence, HPV vaccination of males is not in the national immunisation schedules and subsidies do not apply.”
“Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) have put in place protocols and processes to ensure patient safety and continuity of care when patients are transferred across clusters. Medical information, including the patient's condition and the treatments rendered prior to the transfer are documented and provided to the receiving PHI.”
“We try not to over-rely on only subsidy or insurance. Instead, through a combination of subsidy, MediShield Life and MediSave, and maintaining some co-payment from patients, we try to keep healthcare affordable. As a result, our national healthcare spending is under 5% of the gross domestic product as of 2022, which is significantly lower than the 10% to 12% of other developed economies. This translates into a lower healthcare financial burden for Singaporeans.”