Affordable Health Planning Programmes for Adult Singaporeans

1 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there are plans to provide adult Singaporeans access to affordable health planning programmes; and (b) whether the Ministry will support the growth and development of professional health and well-being coaches to cater for such health planning needs.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, we have made health planning affordable for Healthier SG (HSG) enrollees by fully subsidising their first Health Plan consultations with their enrolled family doctor. During these consultations, residents discuss follow-up actions to improve their health with their family doctors, such as health screening, and exercise and diet adjustments. More than half of HSG enrollees have consulted their chosen doctors to develop a personal Health Plan.

On top of this, there are other types of planning and support available from community partners and healthcare clusters. For example, Sport Singapore’s Active Health Labs offer residents opportunities to have a guided fitness and health assessment, and recommendations on how to achieve fitness and health goals. Healthcare providers can prescribe Active Health's targeted programmes to residents who are medically at risk of lifestyle-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity or hypertension.

Some Community Health Posts provided by healthcare clusters at accessible locations, such as Active Ageing Centres, also provide support for individuals to make diet and lifestyle changes. Resources, such as informative articles recommended programmes, are also available on HealthHub and Healthy 365, to support residents in embracing a healthier lifestyle.

Health planning and support covers a wide scope of activities involving different groups, including Government agencies like the Ministry of Health (MOH), People's Association (PA) and SportSG as well as the groups in the community like professional associations. All agencies and organisations across the healthcare and sporting ecosystems have a role to play in upskilling staff, volunteers and partners, including health and well-being coaches, to support the delivery of better health.

Mr Speaker: Ms See.

Ms See Jinli Jean (Nominated Member): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I just wanted to find out whether there would be intention to have single touch points, where those who are not within the first phase – for example, if I am in my 30s or 40s, but I recognise that I would like to take a more active action towards health planning, including diet, fitness as well as lifestyle changes – would there be a single touch point who we could approach so that we can integrate all these various facilities and help available?

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: I thank the Member for her question. In the work that we do, what we have realised that people come across our portals through very different situations; they are all at different phases of their lives. So, while it may be useful to have one touch point, but in terms of reaching out, it is meaningful to have many different people doing it in different manners. That is why we work with various partners. There are the key sources of information which we want citizens and residents to refer to, like Healthy 365 and HealthHub. These are the key touch points.

In terms of outreach, it is more meaningful to have different permutations, different platforms, at workplaces especially for working adults, at the community for those who are a bit more elderly, and maybe in schools for children. While we do note that there needs to be a single resource, it might be helpful to have different touch points.

If you are looking at it, though, from the perspective of partners who want to work with us, perhaps, I would suggest the Health Promotion Board (HPB) would be the one agency that maybe useful for you to start off with. But, as I said earlier, PA, SportSG also do different dimensions of the work. If you do want to try and tie up for certain efforts, you may refer it to me and perhaps we can connect you to HPB.

Mr Speaker: Ms See.

Ms See Jinli Jean: I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I think the perspective would be the professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). The PMEs that we come across, given people are now more aware of chronic illness and all that, they do recognise that it does take a holistic approach to health – not just physical activity, but what types of physical activity, what types of diet.

People are also wondering if, for example from Healthy 365 or HealthHub, would there be a way in which they can take a more involved approach, but seeking professional advice to construct a health plan which would allow them to be personalised and addressing their aliments.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: As I mentioned earlier in my answer, there are different touch points for these PMEs to reach out to. At the moment, we are also building those up. If the Member has any other suggestions as to how we can build on these further, we are happy to hear from you and we can see how we can make this more meaningful for the community.