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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to take more responsibility for their health even as he assured the government will pour in more resources into healthcare.
This will ensure more patients can be cared for in community hospitals and at home to prepare for the growing demands of an ageing population.
PM Lee said an ageing population calls for a restructure of the whole healthcare system.
Besides building new hospitals such as the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun and the Jurong General Hospital, Singapore needs to build up its step-down care sector including more community hospitals, nursing homes and home care.
Mr Lee said: "Organised properly, they can provide competent, appropriate care especially for elderly patients."
For now, step-down care is largely provided by voluntary welfare organisations but they will need the government's help to deal with a larger number of elderly patients.
Mr Lee said one key step is to link up acute hospitals with community ones where patients can receive treatment at the acute hospital and then recuperate at the community hospital.
He said: "That way, you get appropriate care, you save money and we also free up beds in the acute hospital for more acute cases which need to be treated."
A few hospitals are already testing this model - for example Tan Tock Seng Hospital with Ren Ci Hospital as well as Changi General Hospital and St Andrew's Community Hospital.
Next up will be Jurong General Hospital, which will run in partnership with St Luke's Hospital.
PM Lee added: "This arrangement draws on strengths of both parties. The government's professional teams deliver high quality care, while VWOs are good at pastoral care and community outreach."
However, Mr Lee said patient care must extend beyond community hospitals into the homes so that patients can recover with their families and in familiar surroundings. It is also a cheaper alternative to leaving the elderly patients in hospitals for weeks.
Mr Lee said the Ministry of Health is working on upgrading home care so that care givers and maids looking after elderly patients can benefit from some professional training.
An upgraded home care sector will also see more nurses visiting the patients periodically, check the patients' condition and refer them to doctors and specialists in hospital, if necessary.
He said family doctors can also play a larger role in monitoring and supervising care given.
PM Lee added that the best way to keep health care costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
But a change in attitude and lifestyles require discipline and perseverance and the best way to do this is to harness social links and interests to help individuals stick to good results.
Mr Lee gave the example of the Wellness Programme, currently being piloted in 12 constituencies, and has been popular and successful.
The programme saw seniors cheerful and happy while maintaining a healthy lifestyle through medical check-ups, regular exercise and social networking. It will progressively be expanded to cover the whole island.
He also paid tribute to healthcare workers, school principals, teachers and other officials for their dedication in battling the H1N1 virus. Their work succeeded in delaying the spread of the virus and slowed down its impact on Singapore.
PM Lee said: "You worked under a lot of stress, there must have been some worry, concern over what the dangers might have been, but you did not shirk from your responsibilities, you continued to perform under pressure. I think Singapore owes this team and all of them a debt of gratitude."
In conclusion, Mr Lee said this is how the healthcare system must work, not just against flu but for Singapore's long-term well-being so that Singaporeans can enjoy a long life, good health and active sunset years. - CNA/vm
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