MOH unveils plan to revamp health services

Imagine having dedicated family physicians taking care of your elderly relative's health as soon as he leaves the hospital. Imagine a government-subsidised mobile van that runs through the heartlands conducting health checks for the elderly. Imagine using Medisave to cover costly outpatient treatments for the chronically ill, possibly in clinics.

All these are possible as the Ministry of Health unveils a plan to revamp the healthcare system over the next decade to cater for an ageing population.

Vowing to bring such healthcare closer to the homes — or what is termed as "step-down" services — Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: "If we can tear down barriers between public and private GPs [general practitioners] and specialists, hospitals and step-down care homes … I see an opportunity for a transformation of the way we traditionally manage chronic illnesses."

For a start, common chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension will be targeted. 

"It is not unusual for a diabetic patient to consult a cardiologist for his heart problem, an orthopaedic surgeon for his leg problem, an eye specialist for his eye problem, and a neurologist for his loss of sensation. The suffering, the time spent at each hospital clinic and the cost of treatment can be unbearable," he said. The MOH is also reviewing the use of Medisave to help defray the costs of expensive outpatient treatments.

Cautioning that there isn't a straightforward solution, Mr Khaw said: "If we are not careful, Medisave accounts will be prematurely depleted, becoming insufficient for hospitalisation.

"That would be tragic."

Some 85 per cent of the 300,000 senior citizens in Singapore will have one or more chronic illnesses requiring life-long treatment. At any one time, five to 10 per cent of the elderly population will need help with their personal care and the activities of daily living. 

One initiative is the building of a one-stop health centre at Jurong West, which will provide outpatient specialist, diagnostic, day surgery services and chronic disease management for those suffering from common chronic illnesses. 

"If we do it right, year by year, we can see improvements, not only in service standard, but also in health status of the patients. Let us start with a couple of common chronic diseases, say diabetes or hypertension … and slowly get more GPs and specialists and patients to join the programme," he added.