Rahayu Mahzam on Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill
Singapore is moving to better equip itself to tackle future disease outbreaks and pandemics. It aims to enable the swift prevention and control of infectious diseases, and the flexibility to calibrate its response according to the public health situation. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam gave the details in the House on Thursday (Mar 7). First, measures were proposed to enhance operational and enforcement efficiency during a public health threat or emergency. The Minister would be able to direct anyone in charge of premises, such as the owners of shopping malls, to implement contact tracing or surveillance measures. Authorised health officers would be empowered to give an oral direction to people to comply with regulations - for example, if they encounter a group that exceeds the size limit for gatherings, they can order them to disperse. A higher maximum penalty could be imposed for repeat offenders who do not comply with regulations. Second, changes were mooted to enhance Singapore’s response to future disease outbreaks. The pool of people who can be appointed as health officers to enforce regulations would be expanded to include three groups identified as having been “closest to the action” during the COVID-19 pandemic and who would be the first sources to be tapped in an escalating outbreak. They are employees of private healthcare providers and MOH-linked entities, employees of prescribed service providers such as call centres engaged to do contact tracing, and auxiliary police officers. Adjunct health officers could also be appointed as additional manpower. They may include volunteers such as former nurses to help with contact tracing and surveillance. Singapore is also strengthening its tools to prevent the import and export of infectious diseases. This means requiring arrivals to comply with specific pre-departure or on-board health rules, as well as requiring people to undergo exit screening before leaving Singapore even if a public health emergency has not been declared. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases within the country, new measures include introducing the concept of an “at-risk individual” to existing categories of “cases”, “carriers” and "contacts”, and making it an offence if a person served with an isolation order fails to enter isolation as soon as possible without a reasonable excuse. Finally, Ms Rahayu announced an amendment involving HIV disclosure obligations. It excludes people living with HIV from informing sexual partners of the risk of infection if they have maintained an undetectable viral load for a certain period of time. The aim is to align legislation with medical advancements and encourage early detection and treatment of HIV.
Singapore is moving to better equip itself to tackle future disease outbreaks and pandemics. It aims to enable the swift prevention and control of infectious diseases, and the flexibility to calibrate its response according to the public health situation. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam gave the details in the House on Thursday (Mar 7). First, measures were proposed to enhance operational and enforcement efficiency during a public health threat or emergency. The Minister would be able to direct anyone in charge of premises, such as the owners of shopping malls, to implement contact tracing or surveillance measures. Authorised health officers would be empowered to give an oral direction to people to comply with regulations - for example, if they encounter a group that exceeds the size limit for gatherings, they can order them to disperse. A higher maximum penalty could be imposed for repeat offenders who do not comply with regulations. Second, changes were mooted to enhance Singapore’s response to future disease outbreaks. The pool of people who can be appointed as health officers to enforce regulations would be expanded to include three groups identified as having been “closest to the action” during the COVID-19 pandemic and who would be the first sources to be tapped in an escalating outbreak. They are employees of private healthcare providers and MOH-linked entities, employees of prescribed service providers such as call centres engaged to do contact tracing, and auxiliary police officers. Adjunct health officers could also be appointed as additional manpower. They may include volunteers such as former nurses to help with contact tracing and surveillance. Singapore is also strengthening its tools to prevent the import and export of infectious diseases. This means requiring arrivals to comply with specific pre-departure or on-board health rules, as well as requiring people to undergo exit screening before leaving Singapore even if a public health emergency has not been declared. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases within the country, new measures include introducing the concept of an “at-risk individual” to existing categories of “cases”, “carriers” and "contacts”, and making it an offence if a person served with an isolation order fails to enter isolation as soon as possible without a reasonable excuse. Finally, Ms Rahayu announced an amendment involving HIV disclosure obligations. It excludes people living with HIV from informing sexual partners of the risk of infection if they have maintained an undetectable viral load for a certain period of time. The aim is to align legislation with medical advancements and encourage early detection and treatment of HIV.
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