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SINGAPORE: Starting from next year, needy elderly Singaporeans can get subsidised treatment for three major chronic illnesses at their family doctors' clinics.
This is because the Ministry of Health has extended the Primary Care Partnership Scheme to cover diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia - or high cholesterol.
The scheme was introduced in 2000 to allow eligible, means tested elderly Singaporeans to receive care at subsidised rates, but only at participating private GP (general practitioner) clinics.
The aim of the scheme is to make it more convenient for the elderly to receive subsidised care nearby, instead of having to travel to a polyclinic.
The move will benefit more than 19,000 patients who can get treated at the 450 GP clinics and 190 dental clinics participating in this scheme.
74-year-old He Ming Rong and his wife go to the Toa Payoh Polyclinic every three months for treatment on their chronic diseases, as they pay subsidised rates.
But they found it inconvenient as it takes them about half an hour to get to the polyclinic on foot. If they take the bus, they have to transfer at Ang Mo Kio Interchange, which they found troublesome. All in, they spend about four hours travelling to and fro, and consultation at the polyclinic.
As such they prefer to go to their family doctor, whose clinic is just five minutes away from home.
"We have seen this doctor for some time. (At) the polyclinic, the doctor keeps changing, and the things keep changing, like new medicine. It's very troublesome," said He.
But this is all about to change. From next year, they can go to their family GP as the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) is extended to cover chronic ailments.
The scheme, which was introduced eight years ago, aims to make it more convenient for the needy elderly to receive subsidised care at nearby private clinics, instead of having to travel to a polyclinic. Currently it only covers ailments such as coughs and colds.
"I'm already seeing them (patients) for acute conditions such as coughs and colds, so I think it would help if I can take care of their chronic diseases as well. That gives me a better idea of the patient's health in general," said Dr Teo Boon See at the Camry Medical Centre.
Polyclinics now see 43 percent of patients with chronic diseases. The latest move will address this imbalance in the polyclinic's disproportionate share for chronic diseases and ensure right-sitting of patient care.
Said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan: "If the primary care sector is not strong and the healthcare sector is dominated by essentially tertiary care or hospital-based care, I think the country suffers for it. It doesn't mean (that there will be) no primary, what it means is a very expensive way of delivering primary care in a hospital when it can be done at a community level.
"It will also help develop a long-term doctor-patient relationship, to eventually realise the vision of having one family physician for every Singaporean."
Chronic diseases are a growing global epidemic and Singapore is not spared from this. To tackle this problem, the MOH wants to rally both the general practitioners and the polyclinics to work together as a team and complement each others strengths.
To detect chronic diseases early, Singaporeans will be encouraged to be screened at GP clinics.
From next month, those aged 40 and above will receive a letter from the Health Promotion Board to inform them of the importance of such screening, as well as the nearest GP clinic where the screening can be done. The screening programme will cover diabetes hypertension, lipid disorders and cervical cancer.
Subsidies will be given to the poorer 30 percent of the population. To qualify, patients need to come from households with a per capita income of S$700 and below, and be aged 65 and above. Disabled patients also qualify. - CNA/ac/ls
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