Rahayu Mahzam
Singapore
“We engage the insurance providers quite regularly, but we are very mindful about where we intervene, especially because they need to be competitive and there is a commercial dimension to it, which we feel that we should respect. So, how we intervene is via the conditions that are put in place vis-a-vis the consumers.”
“So, that is not something they can worry about. There is already the S+3M framework that is already in place, so we know that MediShield Life is one, they have their MediSave and if all else fails, there is MediFund.”
“Should there be disputes over specific claims, policyholders can take it to the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC), an independent and impartial institution that assists with insurance-related disputes.”
“It is just a symptom, so the underlying cost pressures still need to be addressed. The description that we had put earlier in the past is that it is a knot that we need to untangle; and that is something we are doing with a multi-pronged, with engagements with different parties and stakeholders.”
“I appreciate the Member's feedback. As I said earlier, this is something that we will continue to consider. But we do also have to appreciate that the information that we get is live, in terms of waiting times and all that.”
“But I do take the point and we are actually reviewing to see what is a meaningful way to put out this information so that the public can understand, so that we can all track properly whether the good health outcomes are a result of the efforts that we are making. I will take the feedback back and we will continue to review this.”
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“However, this would have to be balanced against the need for accused persons not to be denied representation, in their defence. For a long time, the balance has been struck against providing representation. This is a question of judgement and our view is that the right balance was struck at that time. However, in today's Singapore, we think that the balance has shifted. With this, we need to consider, first, who we should help. A study conducted by MinLaw showed that accused persons whose monthly per capita household income, or PCHI, is less than S$950 cannot afford legal representation. These households are around the 25th percentile of resident households by income. Those whose monthly PCHI is less than S$1,500, or around the 35th percentile, will also find it challenging to afford representation even for plead guilty cases. Thus, we are expanding our coverage from the 25th to the 35th percentile of households by income. We will, at the same time, increase aid coverage to all criminal offences, with some exceptions. Second, we need to consider how our existing model of criminal legal aid can be improved. Today, criminal legal aid is provided through CLAS, which we began funding in 2015. This has helped more accused persons. However, the number of cases that CLAS could handle, is dependent on the support from the Bar. Whereas if the Government steps in, the assurance level for the provision of legal support can be higher. Our assessment is that the Government should provide more assistance to help needy Singaporeans who cannot afford legal representation. Hence, we will be establishing the PDO to help such accused persons. This is a significant move as it will institutionalise public defence within our criminal justice system.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Minister for Law, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." I will speak about the broader policy and principles behind this Bill, as well as the specific provisions of the Bill. Let me start with the backdrop to this Bill. In April this year, the Minister for Law delivered a Ministerial Statement on the establishment of a Public Defender's Office to deliver criminal defence aid. Minister said that this is a significant shift in policy. Before this, in 2015, we began directly funding CLAS. This is the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme run by the Law Society Pro Bono Services. In 2019, we began studying how else we could make criminal legal aid available to the vulnerable in society. We decided that setting up a Public Defender's Office, or PDO, is the right model for Singapore. This is a very significant move as the state is taking on a direct role of providing criminal legal aid. Today's Bill provides for the establishment of a criminal defence aid scheme, to be administered by the PDO. This has come after intense consultations – at least 10 consultations with the Law Society and Criminal Bar over the last two years. And we considered their feedback carefully. I will now sketch out the reasons for setting up the PDO and explain the shift in our philosophy towards criminal legal aid. The previous view taken, in light of the developments in Singapore then, was that the state should not be paying to defend accused persons. There are good reasons for this. Before accused persons are charged, there would have been thorough investigations done by the Police. The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) would also have reviewed decisions to charge.”
“I thank the Member for the question. The challenge is, private clinics have varied business models and pricing arrangements. So, the feasibility of applying negotiated drug prices to the private sector really depends on whether price controls can be introduced to ensure cost-savings are passed on to the patients. This is also subject to the agreement by the drug companies. This is something that will require further study. We will take this back and look into it and have extensive engagements with the industry.”
“And we have already said that, if they face difficulty and require non-CDL treatments, if they face difficulty affording the drugs, they can be referred to PHIs and they can get discretionary financial assistance. I know this is something that is challenging for patients who are facing these situations. But we need to look at the bigger picture and, that is, to reduce the ever-increasing drug prices. With the moves that we have made, we have seen a reduction and this is something that we need to continue with. We have to help those who are not able to be covered under the list as much as we can. We also then have to monitor the process as we go along to see and ensure that, in the long run, it will actually benefit more Singaporeans when all the drug prices can be moderated and are lowered because there is an incentive for the pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices.”
“I thank the Member for the question. First off, we need to appreciate that when doctors actually make recommendations for treatment, it has to be on the basis of evidence. All new and existing patients should be properly advised of the proven efficacy, side effects and costs of the available treatment options, including the financial implications of receiving a treatment that is not on CDL at the earliest opportunity. So, we appreciate that by creating this drug list, there may be some patients who may require drugs outside the drug list and may face difficulties. This could include patients who already have tried drugs on CDL and found them ineffective for patients with contraindications to the drugs on the cancer list. But there needs to be evidence of efficacy of the prescribed drug outside CDL. I just wanted to make that clear. In respect of those patients on a case-by-case basis, because what happens is that we have provided this lever where there is, actually, a direct referral to the public healthcare institutions (PHIs). They can, therefore, get discretionary funding that is available to them, thereby getting treatment at a far lower cost. It is through this referral that the doctors in the PHIs will then be able to assess the appropriate treatment that is meant for the patient. The other question is related to the number. The number of patients who will be affected by the cancer drug treatment changes is actually constantly fluctuating. As patients drop in and out of treatments and, given the ongoing work, we are, actually, expanding the treatments on CDL. Nonetheless, we have looked at this and CDL actually covers around 90% of cancer drug treatments used in PHIs.”
“Actually, there is an existing regulatory oversight. MOH and MAS work closely together in exercising regulatory oversight over Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers. IP insurers have to seek approval from MOH for any changes in terms and conditions and MAS will take action against insurers if they do not pay claims in accordance with the policy terms and conditions that they have agreed to or if there is any unfair handling of claims. IP premiums are set, reviewed and adjusted by insurers based on commercial and actuarial considerations. Insurers may adjust premiums, taking into account the impact of the changes and their own claims experience and other factors. So, insurers have an incentive to help keep premiums competitive to attract and retain their policyholders. So, we hope all these changes, in the long run, will help to moderate premium increases. I also realised that I have not really addressed Dr Lim Wee Kiak's question about how patients can appeal for drugs to be considered for inclusion in CDL. They can refer the drug to ACE for ACE to make that assessment. We also note that, in the process where there are private patients, there is that opportunity for them to have direct referral to the public health institutions and this is where the assessment can also be made in respect of the appropriate treatment. There will also be subsidies available to that patient.”
“The Member also asked about the timing. Actually, the process has been put up on ACE's website. Drug companies that wish to participate in this process would be able to time their applications accordingly. The key process deadlines have been put up online and it usually takes about five months from submission until the funding decision. Funding implementation, typically, occurs within four to six months after a funding decision has been made. But with timely evidence submission, high quality of clinical evidence and reasonable pricing proposals from the pharmaceutical companies, these will help to expedite it. Since January 2021, ACE has also established a new process in consultation with the pharmaceutical industry to enable cancer treatments to be evaluated for subsidy and MediShield Life, in parallel with HSA's regulatory approval process. Under this process, companies will be responsible for providing evidence submission to ACE, in parallel with HSA's regulatory approval process. All these would be done in tandem. This will bring funding decisions upstream, close to the point of market entry. So, they can do it ahead of time. By the time it comes in, we would already have allowed for it to be put in. This minimises the time gap between HSA registration and inclusion into the drugs list. I hope this addresses the Member's questions.”
“I thank the Member for the question. Actually, the whole intent of this is to make sure that cancer drug prices are lowered and the best safeguard against profiteering is competition. In this regard, the Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE) uses the established Health Technology Assessments to evaluate the relative value of new drugs, compared to existing standards of care. In parallel, ACE also conducts value-based pricing negotiations to ensure drug prices are competitive. So, the financing changes that we made have been a major step to incentivise drug companies to price drugs competitively so that their drugs would be eligible for subsidies, MSHL and IPs. And because of this, we have seen the promising results that I mentioned earlier. In respect of the Member's concern with regard to profiteering, actually, the Competition and Consumers Commission of Singapore also has levers to investigate all reports of anti-competitive behaviour and will take action against instances of anti-competitiveness. The Member has also asked about the process and I would like to take some time to explain the assessments made by ACE I mentioned earlier. ACE assesses the clinical and cost effectiveness, using published methodologies that are in line with international best practices. And it draws on clinical, epidemiological and health economic data, compare the incremental costs and incremental improvements in health benefits of the treatment relative to the existing standard of care. As part of this process, ACE consults MOH's Oncology Drugs Sub-Committee comprising local clinical experts from the public and private sectors to ascertain the clinical value of medicines and evaluation and the appropriate use of cancer therapies based on clinical evidence.”
“This has allowed us to include around 50 more treatments into CDL since it was announced in August 2021. The current CDL covers some 90% of treatments used in the public sector and is updated every four months to keep up with medical advancements and latest clinical evidence. However, we note that there could be exceptions where patients do not respond to treatments on CDL and their doctors may exercise clinical discretion to prescribe non-CDL treatments based on evidence of benefit. In these cases, doctors must be prepared to justify their clinical decisions to patients and their colleagues. Doctors must also counsel the patient on its risks, efficacy and costs so that the patient may make an informed choice. Some patients may still be covered for such non-CDL treatments by their private insurance, such as riders or critical illness plans. In this transitional period, MOH will put in place measures for the small number of exceptional cancer patients who require non-CDL treatments and are affected by the policy changes. Private patients who have difficulty affording their bills may opt to be transferred to subsidised care at public healthcare institutions. Once patients are in subsidised care, they can benefit from more affordable drugs and medical fees, as well as access a range of financial assistance, such as MediFund. All patients can also appeal to use more MediSave.”
“The current claim limit that is applied to all types of cancer drugs gives pharmaceutical companies little or no reason to lower prices and takes away the Government’s negotiating power. This has resulted in an unsustainable rise of cancer drug prices. If left unchecked, cancer drugs will, eventually, be unaffordable for the majority of cancer patients. The changes, focusing MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) to cover a Cancer Drug List (CDL) of clinically-proven and more cost-effective cancer drug treatments, improve affordability in two ways. First, it provides the incentive for pharmaceutical companies to price their drugs more reasonably so as to benefit from financing coverage. Since we announced the changes in 2021, we have managed to secure an average price reduction of 30%. For some cancer drugs, the price reduction achieved was over 60%. The lower prices have made more cancer drugs cost-effective, enabling 66 more cancer drugs to be listed for subsidy. Second, nudging utilisation of cancer drugs towards proven and cost-effective care will ensure that treatment costs for the broad majority do not rise unsustainably as a result of liberal use of very expensive and novel cancer drugs. These changes will benefit thousands of patients and improve affordability of more cancer drugs for all Singaporeans. The CDL is extensive. We already have a panel of experts, comprising senior public and private oncologists and haematologists across various specialisations, who recommend new treatments for inclusion into CDL. This panel has approved treatments that cover multiple lines of therapy, beyond first line treatment, as well as rare cancer treatments to CDL.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, with your permission, may I address Question Nos 8 and 9 together, and also Question No 71 for oral answer and Question No 41 for written answer filed by Mr Gerald Giam for the Sitting on 4 July, please?”
“We should garner the insights and build that in as part of the training of mentors or mentoring programmes. I, therefore, hope that MCCY can look at efforts to develop a more strategic and current mentoring framework for our youths. I believe with these efforts, we can continue to encourage our youths to be resilient and hopeful for the future.”
“I support the efforts of Mentoring Alliance Singapore and oversee the youth empowerment and mentoring programmes under M3. I do not think I need to extol the virtues of mentoring to this House. We all know the value of having that someone in your life to give guidance and motivation as you venture into new unknown and challenging areas. I would like though to emphasise the importance of mentoring in opening world views and nudging young people to explore possibilities. This is especially significant for families of certain economic status, where their children do not benefit from the social capital of those who are more well-to-do or well-connected. Their world view may be circumscribed by what they see their parents do. Even if they get inspired by someone they read or hear about in the news, they do not know how to get there, how to achieve the same things. Given the current evolution of the economy post-pandemic, it is timely, in fact, more urgent now, to train people from various growing industries to become mentors. Further, not everyone is as fortunate to meet a mentor who can guide her along. We need to make sure that every young person has access to the support she needs. There are a lot more programmes and opportunities now, compared to the time when I was in school. We could continue to improve on this by creating an ecosystem and culture of mentoring in Singapore. That way, every young person will have access to mentors and, when they grow older, may be mentors themselves. Aside from educational development and career prospects, it is important to also look into the emotional development and resilience of youths. There is a lot of awareness now about mental well-being and its impact on the holistic development of an individual.”
“It was especially challenging for those in technical courses where hands-on learning is important. Internship programmes had to be adjusted as firms implemented work-from-home arrangements. Those who had planned to study overseas or go for an exchange programme had their plans disrupted. Prospects for some industries appeared bleak as the economy pivoted and some wondered about their choice of study and career prospects. This caused much anxiety and uncertainty. Some young people I spoke to expressed how the pandemic has robbed them of their opportunities and youth. The impact on their mental well-being was, indeed, significant. According to the NYC Youth Statistics in Brief 2020, the youth labour force participation rates for the year 2019 was 61% for ages 20 to 24; 90.1% for ages 25 to 29; 92.3% for ages 30 to 34. According to the MOM report in June 2021, the youth unemployment rate climbed in 2020. Annual average resident youth unemployment rate hit 10.6%, 1.8% higher than during the 2009 global financial crisis and 1.3% higher than during the 2003 SARS pandemic. While the situation is challenging for those transiting from school to work, I feel that our youths have shown a lot of resilience in overcoming their situation. There may be industries affected, but there are many opportunities and new growth areas. It is important, therefore, to strategically look at how we can support our youths to seize the opportunities and provide them with the relevant insights, so that they are motivated and have the necessary information to make decisions for their future. Mentors, especially in growth sectors, can play a meaningful role in this effort. I am a strong believer in mentoring.”
“Thirdly, there is so much potential to promote inclusiveness through sports. Sports are a social leveller that does not distinguish between educational levels, socio-economic status, race or religion. It helps bring together people from all walks of life. We can support and cheer for one another and use common facilities together. This would help normalise different abilities and open doors to a better appreciation and understanding of differences. I note that there have been efforts on this front. There is a Disability Sports Master Plan in place setting the roadmap for various initiatives. There are inclusive gyms and several disability sports programmes and also efforts by SportSG. I also understand that various stakeholders like Singapore Disability Sports Council and MOE, work with SportSG to enable talent development in disability sports and strengthen capabilities in the ecosystem. I would like to understand if we have been tracking our progress. Have there been developments on inclusive physical exercise and disability sports programmes? Are knowledge and expertise in tailoring sports activities for PWDs and organising inclusive sports programmes sufficiently widespread? I hope the Ministry can share its plans to leverage sports to make Singapore a more inclusive society. Mentoring and Supporting Youths The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about much disruption and challenges to all, including our youths. Our young people had to contend with significant changes in their educational journey and there was a particularly specific impact for those who were in certain courses of study or at the tail end of their formal education. They had to quickly adjust to learning online, with less interaction with teachers and other students.”
“In 2021, our para-athletes shone on the world stage. For the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Team Singapore fielded 10 athletes across six sports to compete with the world's best and represent Singapore at the highest sporting showcase. In October last year, this House resolved in a Motion to congratulate Team Singapore Olympians and Paralympians for their achievements. For the Bahrain Asian Youth Para Games, Singapore sent 13 athletes and the amazing team made the nation proud by bringing back five gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Our para-athletes have been an inspiration to us all. They show us what it means to defy the odds and what is possible when you are not defined or constrained by physical limitations. We can, and should, draw from their example to encourage more participation in sports in Singapore, especially among persons with disabilities (PWDs). I am happy to hear about the Para Sport Academy but beyond the high-performance sporting participation, we should look at how we can facilitate regular participation in sports activities by improving access and creating more opportunities for PWDs to be involved. There are many good reasons for this. For one, sports activities are a good way to keep healthy. We heard yesterday at the MOH COS debate about preventive health, and physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Sports activities not only help with physical wellness, but also mental well-being as participants interact with others and build relationships through their interactions. Secondly, sports can be so empowering for PWDs. With facilitation and proper guidance, PWDs can acquire useful social skills and build up their confidence as they participate in sports activities that they enjoy.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In a discourse written by Mufti Dr Naziruddin Nasir, which was published by Berita Harian last year, he wrote about the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, when we grappled with confusion and uncertainty on how to balance religious obligations and public safety. However, our religious and community leaders did not let the confusion hamper us and proceeded to guide the Muslim community in Singapore. Indeed, contemporary issues bring new challenges. As a minority Muslim community, we often face unique and multiple challenges to thrive in a non-Muslim majority society. The International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS), which is being planned, is a meaningful platform for the minority Muslim community in Singapore to learn about the efforts of other communities in navigating contemporary issues. MUIS organised two pre-conference sessions last year. We must ensure that ICCOS can benefit the Singapore Muslim community and help other efforts in the religious sector. Can MUIS give details of the key objectives and expected outcomes from ICCOS? Malay/Muslim Students in Secular Schools and Madrasahs”
“I hope we remain cognisant of the varying needs and deepen our understanding of effective support that can be provided. This is work-in-progress and I trust the Government will remain committed to develop the support structures. I hope the larger community too, will continue to deepen their understanding about different abilities and do their part to embrace and support the caregivers. Mentoring for ITE Students”
“Imagine a parent of a child with autism, having a meltdown in the MRT. Calming the child down takes skill and a thick skin, as others watch you, sometimes with judgement or pity. Thirdly, for these caregivers, the intense anxiety never ends as various challenges emerge and evolve at different milestones of the lives of the persons they care for. When they are young, caregivers worry about early intervention, finding the right school, how waiting times to enrol will impact their child and cost of therapies which they hope can help the child's development. When the child transits to a different education level, caregivers worry about how he or she would adjust. When they grow older and sometimes even stronger than the caregivers, parents worry about their waning strength in handling the child or how anyone else would do it. They worry about employment or how their children would survive when they pass on. It is against this backdrop that I am asking for some attention to be given to the plans in supporting the caregivers. I am grateful for the Government's various efforts including engaging different stakeholders through focus group discussions and working with partners and charities to enhance services and funding. I am appreciative of the ongoing efforts and I am heartened to hear that we will be launching the Enabling Masterplan 2030 to further strengthen support in areas like employment, lifelong learning and respite care. This is, indeed, a meaningful platform focusing on key concerns of the special needs community. Could I get further details on the Enabling Masterplan and the strategic effort to bring in different stakeholders and the community to provide different dimensions of support to the caregivers?”
“"Walk with me for a while, my friend; you in my shoes, I in yours. And then, let us talk," Richelle Goodrich. I thought that is an apt quote to start with, to invite you to imagine walking in the shoes of caregivers of persons with special needs. I have shared my personal story in this House but it is the stories of others that inspire me to urge for more understanding and more support for these families. Firstly, I would like to reiterate that there is a spectrum of disabilities and diverse needs. There are physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, developmental delays and even within each category, there are different needs. Some may be high functioning; some require a lot more support. I would therefore caution against brushing "support" in this sector, with a broad stroke, lest we miss out specific needs and think that we have done enough. I accept though that it would be unrealistic to expect the Government to provide solutions to all issues and address every problem. But there is a need for the Government to synchronise efforts especially on larger issues like early intervention, costs of medical care, infrastructure and also create platforms for people to come together to augment Government support. Secondly, I would like to highlight that caregivers of persons with special needs face significant challenges on a day-to-day basis, including financial, physical and emotional challenges. Parents among us would understand that raising children can be an adventure. We love our children very much but there are days which test our resilience. Imagine a day in a life of a parent of a child with physical disabilities. Just washing up your child is a whole logistical affair. Sometimes, your child runs around in a public place and you need to discipline her.”
“We have grown our home palliative places steadily from 2,900 places in 2019 to 3,400 places in 2021 to fulfil seniors’ wishes to pass on at home. This enables seniors to access affordable care options, even at the end-of-life and as they stay close to their families and friends. Last year, we also launched the Community Care Apartments at Bukit Batok, which was oversubscribed. We, therefore, see potential in expanding the housing-cum-care model to the private sector. As announced by MND, we will launch a private Government Land Sale in 2022 to catalyse care innovation for seniors, where tenderers will be invited to propose innovative assisted living models. This will complement the public Community Care Apartment model. Seniors can look forward to a continuum of care that supports their physical and mental well-being. To conclude, MOH will continue to enhance upstream efforts to sharpen our preventive health strategy. We are also committed to strengthening our support for couples before and throughout their parenthood journey and seniors to age well in their golden years. As the Government puts in place various measures and resources, we would also like to urge Singaporeans to take greater ownership of your health today and make positive strides, so that together, we can all live better, for longer. [Applause.]”
“We will share more details during the launch of the Refreshed Action Plan later this year. The second C – Contribution. Many of our seniors want to contribute meaningfully. This may be through learning, volunteerism and employment. One interesting project which emerged during our engagement sessions with Singaporeans was "Stories for Our Seniors". Through this initiative, seniors can volunteer to tell stories using their Mother Tongue Language. This encourages the building of inter-generational bonds with younger Singaporeans and the imparting of life learnings and values through recounting their own experiences, history and heritage. These active interactions can help to address concerns raised by Ms Tin Pei Ling about the deterioration in mental acuity, emotional and physical well-being that seniors may face during the pandemic. I would like to assure Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Henry Kwek that we have also been actively resuming active-ageing programmes and revising the guidelines to facilitate seniors’ participation in a safe manner. Next, HPB and the People’s Association will also jointly roll out a new Health and Wellness Programme called "Live Well, Age Well" in our community nodes. Through a holistic programme, it aims to empower seniors to improve and maintain their physical, mental and social well-being. It will be gradually rolled out nationwide from May 2022. The last C – Connectedness. We will continue to support seniors to age-in-place by increasing access to diverse home and community-based care options within an inclusive built environment. For example, as Mr Yip Hon Weng pointed out, palliative care is an important focus.”
“Mdm Chua from the same Eldercare Centre, also benefits from the Healthy Ageing Promotion Programme For You, HAPPY in short, which consists of dual-task exercises incorporating cognitive and social engagement elements to delay physical frailty and prevent dementia. This enables her to stay socially connected and healthy, while her son works in the day. We are encouraged by these and many other positive stories and feedback received and are expediting the onboarding of more Eldercare Centres. By June 2022, we will set up over 115 Eldercare Centres. These will be accessible and located near both existing and new BTOs. Ms Ng Ling Ling can be assured that we will provide care and support services for seniors, including those living in new 2-room Flexi flats. Befriending is also a key part of the Eldercare Centres, especially for seniors staying alone. This will be complemented with outreach by the Silver Generation Ambassadors. In addition, we provide tele-befriending and emergency response services to seniors through the "CareLine" social support hotline. CareLine runs 24/7 and is supported by call agents trained in vernacular languages. I would like to share with Mr Pritam Singh that CareLine is supporting around 17,000 vulnerable seniors, as of December 2021. Each month, we also receive around 30 calls that require emergency services. To reduce the burden on emergency services, call agents are trained to triage seniors’ conditions after a distress episode and provide remote assistance or activate non-urgent in-person assistance through nearby community providers. Over the past few years, we have taken many steps to strengthen care initiatives for seniors in a comprehensive, accessible and cost-effective manner.”
“This would strengthen our outreach efforts by bringing together all the members’ efforts, events and activities with the aim of getting women to take charge of their own health under a common umbrella. Finally, I would like to bring your attention to another core segment of our society: our seniors. We are committed to celebrating our seniors and enabling them to live to their fullest potential in the community. Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about the Ageing Plan refresh. We have engaged over 5,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life to discuss the refresh of our Action Plan for Successful Ageing. Over the past year, we also started working on our plans to support seniors in the three Cs: Care, Contribution and Connectedness. The first C – Care. Many seniors take pride in staying active and taking charge of their own well-being. To support this, MOH actively onboard aged care facilities onto the new Eldercare Centre Service Model, where seniors can receive Active Ageing, Befriending and referral to Care services. Ms Tin Pei Ling spoke about engagement with seniors. This model enabled seniors to remain connected to both care staff and other seniors even during the pandemic. For example, Mdm Jarnail, who stays alone, has received continuous support and social engagement from the Blossom Seeds’ Eldercare Centre care staff. With their support, she continues to engage in both physical and virtual activities, such as the National Day Intergenerational Programme with schools. She also participates in exercise sessions, where she made friends with other seniors and became healthier and more alert.”
“Firstly, as fertility declines with age and the likelihood of pregnancy complications increases with maternal age, we should continue to encourage couples to marry and start their families early. We are looking into supporting couples with ready access to evidence-based fertility health information to empower them to make fertility decisions and enable them to seek help when needed. Secondly, Minister Indranee had earlier shared that we will be introducing new funding support for certain types of Pre-implantation Genetic Testing, which will benefit Singaporean couples who would like to conceive but are at risk of transmitting serious inheritable diseases to their offspring. We also recognise the psychosocial impact that fertility treatments may have on couples and are exploring how we may better support them. Our partners in the community have done good work to increase awareness on women’s health issues and promote healthier lifestyle practices amongst women. Some of these partners like Breast Cancer Foundation, Singapore Cancer Society and Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS) have been encouraging women to come forth for their recommended breast and cervical cancer screening tests. Other partners, such as Osteoporosis Society Singapore, have been reaching out to the wider population, from Primary school students to adults and seniors, to increase awareness about bone health, osteoporosis and fall prevention. To amplify awareness and create sustainability to some of these initiatives, the Women’s Health Committee that I chair will run a women’s health event in the later part of the year.”
“Over the course of last year, HPB has conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with parents-to-be, fathers, mothers, medical and social service professionals to gain insights to their needs and preferred type of support. HPB also launched Parent Hub recently. It is a one-stop evidence-based resource portal providing local health information. Resources are broken down into actionable steps that parents can adopt for children and youths' health and well-being. This addresses feedback from couples and parents about being “lost” in the varied opinions that are available online and consolidates reliable information in one place. Parents like Ms Richelle and Mr Tan have given their stamps of approval for Parent Hub. As parents of two children of different ages, Ms Richelle and Mr Tan shared that most online resources and e-books they referred to previously were age-specific and time consuming to go through, but they now can find all the information they need for their children under one portal. As relatively new parents, my husband and I are also benefiting from the nuggets of information and quizzes on Parent Hub. In addition, we are working across various public agencies to coordinate programmes so that parents-to-be and parents are kept up to date, equipped with relevant information and skills, and can easily navigate programmes from different agencies. For example, updates on school-based health programmes are also shared via MOE’s Parent Kit, a resource kit that parents can conveniently access digitally via the MOE’s Parent Gateway mobile application. 4.15 pm We understand Miss Cheng Li Hui had concerns about how we are supporting couples on fertility health.”
“For example, HPB has been working with key stakeholders like the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) to tap on their programmes and culturally significant events such as Deepavali to reinforce healthy cooking and eating as a family. HPB also actively engages Indian food and beverage outlets to participate in the Healthier Dining Programme, which provides and rewards customers for selecting healthier options. Individuals, such as Mdm Lalitha have also stood up to promote health within the community. Believing that mental well-being is just as important as physical health, she co-founded Club2Care in 2017, a non-profit organisation to create awareness of the importance of mental well-being and seeking help when needed within the Indian community. Club2Care is a supporter of HPB’s "It's OKAY to reach out" campaign for good mental well-being. Thank you, Mdm Lalitha, for your support and extension of our work. HPB is partnering MCCY to establish a $1.5 million Our Healthy Singapore Fund. The fund will support more community volunteers and partners like Mr Azrin and Mdm Lalitha to develop programmes that are closely in tune with their communities’ needs, and therefore, be more targeted and effective in developing a healthier nation. Other than keeping the general population healthy, MOH is adopting a whole-of-Government approach to provide holistic support to women as well as their partners and families for better population health outcomes. Minister Masagos and Senior Minister of State Janil shared on the Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Strategy to give our young a head start. Please allow me to elaborate on some of our communications and engagement efforts under the Strategy.”
“This year, HPB will expand its reach by working with all MAECs. To encourage healthier eating habits within the Malay community in the month of Ramadan, HPB partnered with MAECs, Mendaki, mosques and Malay-Muslim organisations, such as the Tabung Amal Aidilfitri Trust Fund and Perdaus to distribute healthier groceries to more than 24,500 Malay families. We will work with more MAECs, mosques and Malay-Muslim bodies to promote healthier eating habits during the month of Ramadan this year. I would like to share and celebrate the success of Mr Azrin, a strong advocate for healthy living in the community. Mr Azrin has served the Marsiling MAEC for more than 10 years. As chairman of Marsiling MAEC, he works actively with HPB and other partners to organise various activities that cater to residents’ needs, such as health talks and screenings. During Ramadan last year, he helped HPB to distribute healthy grocery packs to low-income families and encouraged them to choose healthier food during the festive period. As the Vice-Chairman of An-Nur Mosque, he also onboarded the mosque on the Jaga Kesihatan, Jaga Ummah (Taking Care of Health, Taking Care of Community - JKJU) initiative. Mr Azrin also practises what he preaches daily. He and his family stay active by walking and cycling, and chooses healthier products that carry the Healthier Choice Symbol when buying groceries. May Mr Azrin's efforts inspire the community to lead a healthier lifestyle. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair] (In English): Similarly, HPB also considers cultural sensitivities and partners stakeholders to implement health promotion activities for the Indian Community.”
“HPB’s Healthy Living Passport programme was piloted with about 50 families last year to serve the needs of our lower-income families. Activities that parents and children engage in include planning for healthier and economical meals as well as games emphasising the importance of parent-child communication and a balance of physical activities with age-appropriate use of smart devices. Volunteers who befriend the families also participate in the programmes and continue to provide health tips based on the families’ needs after the programme. Preliminary results from the pilot indicate that more than 90% were satisfied with the programme and about one-third of them have started to adopt healthier habits in the areas of nutrition, mental well-being and physical activity. HPB will be reaching out to more families this year. Mdm Chairman, please allow me to say a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Dr Wan Rizal asked about outreach efforts to our minority communities. Last year, I shared plans to form a new workgroup aimed at strengthening health efforts for the Malay community. After identifying the key issues that should be given attention, HPB has brought together community leaders with the experience and expertise to form a Malay Community Outreach workgroup, or MCO. Under MCO, there are five new sub-committees focusing on mental well-being, reducing smoking, improving dietary habits, increasing physical activity and health screening within the Malay community. MCO will work with various parties to expand the reach of successful HPB programmes. For example, HPB collaborated with M3, the Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAECs) and mosques to organise online wellness workshops for more than 200 Malay residents.”
“Chronic disease screening participation rates had hovered around 63% to 66% from 2017 to 2020. We note Dr Lim Wee Kiak’s interest in health screening. We will be doing more to increase take-up, such as working with partners to further encourage the use of Screen for Life, a national health screening programme that provides heavily subsidised chronic disease and cancer screenings. As Dr Lim Wee Kiak pointed out, immunisations are important to protect ourselves against vaccine-preventable diseases. The National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) was introduced in November 2017 to provide national-level guidance on important vaccinations for persons aged 18 and older. Based on the National Population Health Survey 2020, the uptake for influenza vaccination in persons aged 65 to 74 has increased from 14% in 2017 to 23% in 2020. [Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair] To make vaccinations recommended under the NAIS more affordable and accessible, subsidies have been extended to these vaccinations since November 2020, at both CHAS GP clinics and polyclinics. MOH actively works with our primary care partners and other stakeholders such as HPB to increase uptake of these nationally recommended vaccinations, especially among seniors for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. We urge Singaporeans to proactively find out more and take up these vaccinations. To support everyone to be as healthy as possible, we also cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, as everyone faces different risks and challenges. Our health promotion efforts are inclusive to all and targeted efforts taking into consideration different backgrounds and cultural preferences are layered on for select groups to increase their access to healthy living resources.”
“Another area of concern impacting healthy living is smoking. Tobacco use is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. About 10.1% of Singaporeans smoke daily based on results from the National Population Health Survey 2020. In Singapore, we are committed to our long-term goal of bringing the overall smoking rate to a level that is as low as possible. We need to consider Singapore’s context and local trends of tobacco use in developing our tobacco control strategy. Globally, there is an increasing trend of smokers using vapourisers. Together with HPB and the Health Sciences Authority, we are employing heightened multi-pronged measures against vaping. This includes increasing education on the harms of vaping, enhancing the penalty framework for vaping and better whole-of-Government coordination in preventing smuggling and illicit sale and use of vapourisers. To strengthen public education efforts and reduce demand for vaping, HPB is planning to roll out a vape-free campaign later in 2022 targeted at youths and younger adults through popular digital platforms. To support smokers who wish to kick their smoking habits, we previously announced plans to provide subsidies under new tobacco cessation pilots at public healthcare institutions. I am pleased to share that we have received proposals from our healthcare institutions and are evaluating them closely. Concurrently, we will continue to strengthen our existing multi-front approach to curb tobacco consumption and vaping. With a healthy diet, active and smoke-free lifestyle, we can all live better. To help us make timely adjustments to our lifestyle behaviours and seek treatment early if needed, I encourage Singaporeans to seek appropriate, evidence-based health screening.”
“The National Population Health Survey revealed that slightly more than one in three Singapore residents aged 18 to 74 had hypertension during the period 2019 to 2020. This is a significant increase from 2017 and reminds Singaporeans of the need to adopt better dietary practices. We will introduce a three-pronged strategy to reduce sodium consumption. First, sodium substitution. We will increase support through HIDS to shift the food service sector towards using lower-sodium alternatives such as lower-sodium salt, which contains about 30% less sodium compared to regular salt at the same quantity. Second, increasing the range and variety of lower-sodium salt, sauces and seasonings. HPB will work with major salt suppliers and retailers to expand the range of lower-sodium salt. We will also ramp up existing efforts using HIDS to spur reformulation of lower-sodium sauces and seasonings. Thirdly, public education. HPB will launch a multi-year nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the effects of overconsuming salt in our diet and educate the public on available alternatives and ways to replace salt without compromising on taste. Sufficient physical activity is also important for a healthy lifestyle. There are various efforts to support Singaporeans to exercise. For example, the National Steps ChallengeTM continued amid COVID-19 and is now in its sixth season. Additionally, HPB’s leisure-time physical activity programmes such as mall workouts at health promoting malls, Sundays at the Park, Community Physical Activity Programme are still available where possible, in line with prevailing safe management measures. Where feasible, some on-ground programmes are taken virtually, for participants who work from home or prefer to work out remotely or individually to keep active.”
“The Health Promotion Board (HPB) also extended the Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme (HIDS) in 2018 to support the development and commercialisation of lower-sugar products. As of December 2021, seven beverage suppliers were on board the scheme. Through these efforts and support from the industry, we have observed early success with the industry accelerating the reformulation of sweetened beverages. Singaporeans can now choose from a larger variety of healthier drinks. From when engagement started with the industry in 2017 to 2019, the proportion of healthier choice beverages in the market increased from 58.6% to 71.7%. The median sugar level of sweetened beverages has also decreased from 8.5% to 6.3% over the same period. To further reduce the intake of sugar, MOH also announced in 2020 that the labelling and advertising measures for sugar will be extended to freshly prepared beverages. HPB has conducted an implementation consultation with the industry on the proposed specification. More details of the measures will be released when ready. Together with public education, we will continue to explore using regulation and industry support to make healthier ingredients and foods easily accessible to Singaporeans. Mr Ang Wei Neng will also be pleased to know that we will be doing more to reduce Singaporeans’ sodium consumption. Singapore residents are on average consuming 3.6 grammes of sodium a day. This is almost double that of World Health Organization’s recommended limit, translating to more than 1.5 teaspoons of salt daily. High sodium intake is associated with increased risk of hypertension, which is in turn associated with higher risks of stroke and heart attack.”
“Mr Chairman, preventive health is an important part of ensuring overall health and well-being. Good preventive health will lead to lower health risks, earlier detection and management of diseases, as well as longer-term sustainability of our healthcare system. To support good preventive health, we constantly evolve and adjust our approach to build a healthy ecosystem for Singaporeans. In response to Ms Ng Ling Ling's question on how we encourage individuals to take ownership of their health, we do so by making it easier to adopt and prioritise healthy living and bring more lifestyle programmes closer to our residents. Our efforts can only succeed with strong participation of Singaporeans. Today, I seek the continued support of Singaporeans as I share our upcoming efforts to collectively nudge the community towards healthier ways of life and strengthening support for women, seniors and their families. Key components of a healthy lifestyle include good nutrition and diet as well as sufficient physical activity. First, good nutrition and diet. We actively encourage Singaporeans to adopt a healthier diet, particularly for sugar and sodium consumption. Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about the War on Diabetes, which we declared in 2016. Since then, based on the recent National Population Health Survey, age-standardised prevalence of diabetes has remained stable at 7.9% from 2017 to 2020. 4.00 pm In 2019, MOH announced plans to introduce regulatory measures for beverages high in sugar content. From 30 December 2022, Nutri-Grade beverages sold in Singapore in prepacked form and from automatic beverage dispensers will be subject to new labelling requirements and advertising prohibitions.”
“I think the Member for the question. Firstly, I just want to express how I understand the anxieties of the couples going through this process, especially during such times. I know their concerns and the urgency of such situations. I would just like to highlight though that I mentioned earlier that there were 62 applications in total, 59 were successful. So, it is not really a high rate of rejection and really, the rejection was as a result of not meeting the regulatory requirements stipulated in our licensing terms and conditions for Assisted Reproduction (AR) services. So, that is something that they would need to align with. In respect of the other point about the standard forms for application, I recall that we had this exchange, about a year back, in relation to this matter and Mr Louis Ng had raised this point about making it convenient and using a standard form. We had taken on board Mr Ng's previous suggestion. To facilitate the MOH review of the increasing number of appeals at that juncture, MOH developed an online application form, specifically for the purposes of such appeals. A circular was issued on 3 June 2021 to all licensees providing AR services under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act that set up the conditions for appealing to import gametes or embryos during the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the information that MOH would require the information required to carry out its review. I hope that addresses the Member's query. 10.58 am”
“Since the process was established in June 2021 to review applications to import embryos back to Singapore for Assisted Reproduction treatment for couples affected by the COVID-19 travel restrictions, MOH has received 62 such applications. Of these, 59 applications were successful; three were unsuccessful. Three were unsuccessful as they did not meet the regulatory requirements stipulated in the Licensing Terms and Conditions for Assisted Reproduction Services, such as exceeding the allowed egg donor age limit.”
“Could I get an update on the implementation of TRANSIT and find out if there are any plans on the expansion of this programme? Support for Students' Mental Well-being”
“Like other parents, parents of children with special needs like me also want to see our children do well in school and achieve their fullest potential. The education journey, though, is often a lot more challenging. The children are differently abled and require more support. If we intervene early in schools and give them the necessary skills to prepare them for the future, there is a greater chance that many of them could carry on with their lives with minimal reliance on others and work and socialise like everyone else. If they can be independent and contribute meaningfully towards the economy, less resources need to be spent on support structures or schemes when they are adults or when they age. It is thus important to have the appropriate educational pathways for these students to prepare them well so that they can integrate and contribute to society. Schools offer the support structure for parents in their children's developmental journey. The challenge for parents sometimes is in getting to the services they need, in enrolling in appropriate schools which are within the vicinity of their homes. Special Education (SPED) schools play a key function in the special needs community. How can we continue to enhance the accessibility and affordability of SPED schools? It is also particularly challenging for families as their children move on to different stages of their developments. We should continue to build on the efforts to support special needs students as they transit into the various milestones in their lives. MOE had previously announced Transition Support for Integration or TRANSIT to help children ease the transition into Primary school.”
“Currently, there is no available local data on the use of vaporisers as these are illegal products and reliable self-reported data is difficult to obtain. However, in 2021, there were 7,593 offenders, across all ages, caught for import of vaporisers, compared to 6,192 in 2020. Similarly, in 2021, there were a total of 4,697 offenders caught for purchase, use or possession of vaporisers, of which about one-third were under-18, compared to a total of 1,266 offenders in 2020. While data on number of offenders may not represent the total number of users, the trend does suggest a general increase in use of vaporisers in Singapore. This worrying trend of increased vaping is also observed internationally. In response, MOH will work together with relevant partners and stakeholders to strengthen enforcement measures, as well as enhance public education efforts. The Health Promotion Board will also roll out a vape-free campaign later in 2022 targeted at youths and younger adults through popular digital platforms. 11.00 am”
“I thank the Member for the clarification question. Indeed, it is a very meaningful suggestion. The libraries are already working with various partners because this effort of curating and encouraging, piquing people's interest is something we need to tap on the community to provide that whole array and buffet of interesting content for library goers. So, that is already something that is being done. And as far as the technology is concerned, we have been working with different partners to develop and use the different platforms for different demographics. We are also working with people in the community to create learning communities within the library. So, the Member's suggestion is definitely something that can be taken in and something that we can consider. But I would like to just make a pitch, if you have not already, to go to the showcase and explore what are some of the other opportunities and we can work with partners on this.”
“We stand ready to work with individuals, companies and partners in the people sector to realise the vision of a digitally-ready and inclusive society. This will allow all Singaporeans to partake in exciting opportunities with a spirit of discovery and growth in our shared digital future.”
“This includes a collaboration with DBS and the Singapore Judiciary on a community hackathon to generate solutions on creating safer and kinder online spaces, and the recently concluded Youth Action Challenge, where the AfA supported the mental well-being track. We also marked Safer Internet Day with a webinar, where a panel of professionals discussed how parents and families can help our children and young stay safe online. Moving ahead, the AfA will continue engaging and equipping parents and youths to support those who may be experiencing online harm. This includes a second online harms webinar which will take place in the coming months, as well as a website containing updates on the AfA's events and resources to address online dangers and risks. We are especially grateful for the support of our 48 Alliance members, some of whom are keen to run initiatives to tackle online harms in the longer term. MCI will continue to work with these partners to tackle online harms. We welcome more stakeholders to join us in ensuring that all users are empowered to navigate the digital future with confidence. Just as we have built one of the world's safest, cleanest and most liveable cities, all of us have a role to play in shaping Singapore's online space. We must preserve positive and enriching digital experiences for those around us by being respectful users online. In closing, I would like to put these various efforts in context. According to MCI's 2021 Digital Readiness Survey, 76% of Singaporeans feel comfortable using digital technologies, while 80% of Singaporeans acknowledge that digital technologies have made their lives easier. This is encouraging, but we can and will do more.”
“Finding solutions to help users protect themselves from harmful online content requires the expertise of diverse stakeholders, such as legal professionals, tech specialists, regulators, educators and community partners. MCI is, therefore, working closely with our community partners to promote safe, responsible and positive use of technology. In conjunction with Safer Internet Day on 8 February, the Media Literacy Council (MLC) partnered Apple Singapore to organise a cyber wellness webinar for Primary school teachers and launched a fun and relatable video-making challenge for students to encourage the sharing of cyber wellness messages. 2.45 pm Beyond this webinar, MLC has also produced resources to help individuals avoid falling victim to technology-facilitated harms, such as scams, sexual grooming, pornography and online harassment. The council also promotes digital literacy resources to educate the public on being more discerning and empathetic online to create a safer, smarter and kinder Internet for all. In September last year, TOUCH Cyber Wellness launched a programme entitled "e-Conversations for the Family", with a toolkit to guide parents in having conversations with their children about pornography and its dangers. MCI also launched Sunlight AfA, which I co-chair with Senior Minister of State Sim Ann. The AfA aims to raise awareness of online sexual harassment and empower victims to address and deal with such incidents. I thank Mr Fahmi Aliman for recognising the positive impact of Sunlight AfA. Since its launch, the AfA has been studying the incidence of online harms in Singapore and how they impact individuals, especially women and girls. Key insights will be released in due course. The AfA has also partnered other stakeholders for greater outreach.”
“But we cannot let these fears hold us back from unlocking new opportunities. Rather, we must actively equip ourselves with the relevant knowledge and skills to embrace technological advancements, with the ability to recognise and respond to the risks in the digital domain. I agree with Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, Dr Shahira Abdullah, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Dr Wan Rizal and Mr Don Wee that it is ever more important to ensure online safety for our people. Indeed, as more of our interactions and activities shift online, individuals and businesses will inevitably be exposed to digital risks, online harms and potentially unhealthy addictions. Parents today are concerned that easy access to Internet among our youths has made widespread dissemination of harmful and inappropriate content, such as pornography, quick and effortless. In her speech, Minister Josephine Teo shared that MCI will be introducing new Codes of Practice to enhance online user safety. Legislation provides a critical safety net. But we all have a role to play, too. Beyond being digitally "book smart", we must also build "street smarts" to identify and avoid new risks in the online world. To gain more in-depth understanding of our citizens' digital readiness, MCI is refining metrics and indicators to be tracked in the Digital Readiness Survey. In addition to existing measurements of digital adoption and usage, we intend to better understand the extent to which Singaporeans are able to perform essential digital tasks. We are also looking to understand citizens' digital habits and gaps between attitudes and behaviours. This will inform the development of more targeted interventions to improve digital adoption and address the needs of vulnerable segments. New online harms are growing increasingly complex.”
“As we step up efforts to empower the community, I am heartened to see that many Singaporeans have taken the bold step to learn new digital skills and contribute to this development. One example is a network comprising more than 300 individuals. They share career opportunities and workshops that are available in the technology sector. In fact, some individuals in this network came from non-technology sectors. For example, one is from the healthcare administration sector and has now become a technology developer of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This transition took place after they witnessed how the pandemic had affected hands-on learning conducted physically and they began to realise the value of applying digital technology. I had the opportunity to speak to one of the network members, Mr Mohd Afiq. He is the founder of Playtours, an online tool that allows users to create unique and meaningful virtual experiences. These include "escape room" games and real-time multi-player games. Developing a product from scratch is certainly not an easy task. However, Afiq is confident of the value that "Playtours" will bring to today's digital world and this has encouraged him to persevere and carry on in order to develop his business. It is clear that individuals like Afiq serve as an inspiration to all of us. Let us be inspired as well, so that we can, together, seize the digitalisation opportunities that await us. (In English): Mr Chairman, the third key goal that MCI is working towards is to ensure that our people are equipped to recognise and respond to dangers online. The digital way of life often remains challenging, novel and unfamiliar to many of us. Recent events, such as phishing scams, may have also caused us to be wary of going digital.”
“To encourage Singaporeans to actively take charge of their learning, NLB will make more resources and content available to wider audiences. Ms Jessica Tan will be pleased to note that NLB will roll out Nodes in everyday spaces, such as offices, food and beverage outlets and parks around Singapore to provide new entry points for citizens to access digital resources. As extensions of physical libraries, these Nodes will showcase NLB's digital collections, to interest Singaporeans to read and learn wherever they can. Ms Hany Soh asked about our efforts to encourage young readers to master their mother tongue languages. NLB continues to source for, select and identify new avenues to grow their mother tongue language content. Over the past three years, NLB's mother tongue language collections for children have increased by 11%. Recently, NLB has begun offering award-winning English children's books translated into the vernacular. NLB also proactively encourages local publishers to publish their mother tongue language titles in both print and electronic formats to help widen access. Mr Chairman, allow me to deliver the next segment of my speech in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Digitalisation has impacted our lives in many ways and it has brought many opportunities and possibilities. As digitalisation becomes more prevalent, it is also important that the Government scale up efforts to empower the community in terms of their digital capabilities and well-being. Together with the 3P partners, the Government will provide digital access and enhance digital readiness, promote the learning and mastery of digital skills through our libraries, and equip our people, especially the vulnerable, to identify and deal with online risks and threats.”
“Many Members have visited NLB's LAB25 showcase in the main lobby and I encourage the rest to drop by if you have not done so. The showcase brings to life LAB25's four focus areas: building a learning marketplace, nurturing an informed citizenry, inspiring Singapore storytellers and being an equaliser in society. To realise the LAB25 vision, NLB will launch "ExperienceIT", in collaboration with leaders in innovation and technology, such as Amazon Web Services, to drive interest and confidence in more in-depth learning about emerging technology and partner the community to bring more Singapore stories to NLB's network of libraries and make more collections accessible to the public. A new Singapore Alcove showcasing Singapore stories and literature will be part of the Central Public Library after its revamp. It will be a "home" for the Singapore collection with regular programming by local authors, featuring immersive and experiential exhibits. The opening of Punggol Regional Library later this year marks another step towards enabling, empowering and equalising digital access. Building on NLB's ongoing efforts to ensure accessibility of its physical spaces, NLB will do more through a comprehensive suite of accessibility services for persons with disabilities, starting at Punggol Regional Library. This includes accessible collections comprising sensory and Braille books, sign language with text, and books that are useful for caregivers on social and life skills and assistive technologies, such as "Immersive Readers" to cater to Singaporeans with different language needs. At the same time, NLB is continually working to improve the physical spaces in our libraries. The Central Public Library and Marine Parade Public Library will be revamped later this year.”
“Through building skills and familiarity in science and technology topics, Byte.SG aims to bring technology awareness to children living in rental flats. At one of Byte.SG's recent sessions, I saw how the team used augmented reality (AR) and interactive online tools to bring the underwater world to life. Not only were the children excited by this, I was also fascinated by the demonstration! Supported by the Digital for Life Fund, Byte.SG will scale their initiative to locations, such as Nanyang, Bedok, Tanjong Pagar and Tampines, to help more children build digital confidence in a fun, empowering manner. With our 3P partners, we will build on the Digital for Life movement and continue mobilising efforts on the ground by organising a series of events and activities in the coming months. This will culminate in a Digital for Life Festival, which will take place in the middle of the year. Second, MCI is helping our people deepen digital skills through our libraries. Our libraries and archives are important learning marketplaces to pique Singaporeans' curiosity and inspire discovery, at every stage of our lives. Despite pandemic-related restrictions, NLB's steady loan numbers and growing digital reach exemplify the key role that they play, with at least 64% of Singapore's residents visiting a library or accessing NLB's online content last year and over 98,000 individuals benefiting from NLB's digital readiness programmes so far. In the face of digitalisation, our libraries must keep up with the times, to continue bringing citizens a wide array of learning opportunities, as pointed out by Ms Jessica Tan. To this end, our libraries will be refreshed under the Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025, or LAB25.”
“Today, RLAF partners 20 mosques to organise training sessions that equip seniors with applicable digital skills, such as staying connected through Facebook, WhatsApp and Zoom. The participants I spoke with at one of the sessions greatly appreciated the hands-on learning environment, in a safe space amongst friends. The Foundation intends to expand their outreach to more mosques and deepen learning for seniors who have already picked up basic smartphone skills. RLAF also plans to work with other community partners, like Roses of Peace, to scale their efforts by supplementing volunteers, curating curriculum and launching a certification system to reward the seniors for their learning. Many other partners have stepped forward to support our seniors. The combined efforts of SDO and our partners have resulted in 84% of seniors reporting that they own and use a smartphone in their daily lives. Moving on to the second goal. MCI will continue to bridge digital knowledge and skills gaps, to help citizens keep pace with digitalisation. The digital landscape is continually changing, with new technologies and new apps. We aim to imbue in Singaporeans, a sense of confidence to continue to adapt to this changing space, to actively participate in the digital domain and confidently take on new digital opportunities. We plan to achieve this in two ways. First, by harnessing the community's reach, energy and resources through the Digital for Life movement. Last year, the Digital for Life Fund was established to provide funding assistance for ground-up digital inclusion initiatives. Since then, 22 projects have been supported under the fund and are expected to benefit over 100,000 individuals across society. One example is Byte.SG, which runs the "Void Deck Technology Labs Initiative".”
“Still, we recognise that every Singaporean must have this access. Today, we have digital access programmes, such as NEU PC Plus and Home Access. Since 2020, these initiatives have assisted more than 34,000 low-income households with their digital access needs. Almost double the number, as compared to those assisted before the pandemic. Moving forward, we are looking to enhance our digital access programmes to reach more low-income households and help them more conveniently receive affordable digital access. This will include working with MSF and social service organisations to engage and assist low-income households in their applications. Having ensured that our people have access to the digital realm, we also look at addressing the needs of particular segments of individuals and businesses so that they can adopt – that is, to use and benefit from – digital. Mr Sharael Taha highlighted that there may be some in the community who are less familiar with the digital space, including seniors and some hawkers. At the height of the pandemic, the SG Digital Office (SDO) was set up to engage precisely these groups that may need additional and tailored support. Since 2020, SDO's digital ambassadors have trained more than 130,000 seniors to adopt basic digital skills like using smartphones and empowered 11,000 hawkers to adopt e-payment solutions. Working together with community partners, the SDO will continue to keep its curriculum aligned with the digital landscape and remain a key touchpoint for Singaporeans needing digital assistance. One good example is the SDO's collaboration with the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF).”