The PAP Government will continue to ensure that quality healthcare remains accessible and affordable, and that our healthcare system can better and more sustainably serve the evolving health needs of Singaporeans.

In his Ministry’s addendum to the President’s address, Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said that MOH will continue to expand the healthcare capacity by building a hospital in the east and new polyclinics across Singapore by 2030, even though COVID-19 has delayed the completion of some facilities.

MOH will also expand the scope of service at eldercare centres to include active ageing programmes, befriending services, as well as information and referral for care services.

Three new initiatives from this year will also keep healthcare “affordable and sustainable” for an ageing population and prepare Singaporeans for their long-term care needs. They are: ElderFund, launched in January 2020, and CareShield Life and MediSave Care, to be launched by the end of the year.

The Ministry’s other plans include:

• Continuing with efforts to improve diets and lifestyles for Singaporeans
• Making preventive healthcare more affordable and accessible by enhancing subsidies for vaccinations in various settings
• Reviewing MediShield Life benefits and premiums to ensure that the scheme continues to provide adequate protection against large medical bills and remains sustainable
• Expanding the scope of service at eldercare centres to include active ageing programmes, befriending services, as well as information and referral for care services
• About 7,500 jobs and 1,600 traineeships, attachments and skills training opportunities will be available from now until end-2021 in the healthcare sector for fresh graduates and mid-career job seekers

Mr Gan stressed that our healthcare transformation journey is a multi-year endeavour and we must keep innovating and improving to make Singaporeans healthier and our healthcare system better for all, in partnership with public, community-based and private healthcare providers.

“We will continue to reach out to all Singaporeans, to help us continue our journey to build a strong and sustainable health system for the future together, so that all Singaporeans can live well, longer, and with peace of mind.”

Image credit: Ministry of Health’s Facebook