S$5 diabetes screening extended to at-risk S’poreans under 40
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced at the first DRA roadshow at One Raffles Place on Tuesday (Sept 19) that the Government will be extending its enhanced Screen for Life subsidy to all age groups if they are identified as at-risk through the free online tool. Photo: Esther Leong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Since its rollout at the start of this month, 15,000 Singaporeans have used the Ministry of Health’s diabetes risk assessment (DRA) tool and 4 per cent of them have received letters inviting them to go for subsidised screenings.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) released the figures on Tuesday (Sept 19) at the first diabetes risk assessment roadshow at One Raffles Place, which runs until Wednesday.
Although targeted at those aged 18 to 39 to get more Singaporeans-at-risk to screen for diabetes, the DRA tool (letsbeatdiabetes.sg/dra) can be used by anyone.
First announced in March at the Health Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate, the tool consists of seven questions that take two minutes to answer.
Questions include the amount of time spent on physical activities in a week and how often an individual consumes sugary beverages such as fruit juice, coffee and bubble tea.
Those found to be at risk of diabetes will need to pay a heavily subsidised fee of S$5 for screening and one follow-up consultation, if needed, at any general practitioner clinic on the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas).
They can claim the subsidised screening package by keying in their assessment result using their SingPass accounts.
Part of enhancements to the HPB’s Screen for Life programme, which previously catered to people aged 40 and above, the changes kicked in on Sept 1 together with the launch of the DRA tool.
“This allows us to identify cases earlier, including certain groups like pre-diabetics, who may require more frequent screening and prompt management,” said the ministry.
For 1.8 million Singaporeans aged 40 and above, letters are being sent to invite them for health screenings and a doctor’s consultation (if needed) for S$5 at most.
The package is free for those on the Pioneer Generation Package and costs S$2 for those with a Chas card.
More DRA roadshows will be held in the coming months at places with high human traffic such as supermarkets, institutes of higher learning, workplaces and at community events, said the HPB.
Over 440,000 Singaporeans are estimated to have diabetes and one-third of them may not know they have the condition, which can lead to kidney failure, stroke and heart attacks.
If current trends continue, one million people here could have diabetes by 2050.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who declared war on diabetes last year, was at One Raffles Place on Tuesday.
“What is also important is to follow up after screening results are out. People have gone for screening and decided that (the results) don’t matter, (so they) didn’t bother to take action against it,” he said.
“It’s important for us to continue to support these patients so if they are diagnosed, they (will) have a positive outcome.”
