PAP’s long-term plans ‘will change healthcare scene’
The People’s Action Party (PAP) rally yesterday at the field of Chua Chua Kang Secondary School. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is leading the PAP team in Chua Chu Kang GRC, reassured residents that keeping healthcare costs low would always be a concern for him and his ministry. Photo: Ray Chua
SINGAPORE — Long-term plans have been laid to transform the healthcare landscape, and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong called on voters to support the People’s Action Party (PAP) to see these plans through.
Sketching out these plans at a rally last night, Mr Gan, a member of the PAP team for Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), said that the Healthcare 2020 Master Plan has seen hospital capacity boosted by the building of new hospitals such as the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital. There are also plans to transform the Singapore General Hospital’s Outram campus over the next 20 years, he said.
Apart from infrastructure expansion, the system is also evolving to cater to the needs of Singapore’s older population, he said. These moves involve investments in training and capability development of healthcare professionals, as well as in keeping Singaporeans healthy throughout their lives, Mr Gan added.
“These are long-term projects that require long-term planning and careful implementation ... Which party do you think can implement all these policies? Which party do you trust with monies and resources to implement these?” he asked the crowd gathered at the field of Chua Chu Kang Secondary School.
Mr Gan leads the PAP team comprising Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Ms Low Yen Ling and newcomer Yee Chia Hsing in a contest that pits them against a People’s Power Party (PPP) slate led by Mr Goh Meng Seng.
Taking pains to reassure residents that keeping healthcare costs low will always be a concern for him and his ministry, Mr Gan said several policies have been rolled out to help Singaporeans in this regard. These include MediShield Life, which will kick in later this year and will help manage hospitalisation costs, the expanded Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) as well as the enhanced Specialist Outpatient Clinic subsidies, which will do the same for outpatient treatment. CHAS covers 1.3 million Singaporeans.
The benefits rolled out under the Pioneer Generation Package are another form of help that has been provided.
Such policies are only possible because the Government has been prudent with its finances, Mr Gan said, before asking: “Can you count on any other party to be so fiscally careful?”
Mr Gan emphasised that current and future leaders will need to have the same qualities that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his team possessed, even if the challenges Singapore faces now are different.
“Without vision, without determination or without dedication, we will not make progress and we will be marginalised over time. So, we need to choose our leaders carefully,” he said.
