Benefits of SG Arrival Card System on Public Health Outcomes and Plans for Discontinuation
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the public health benefits and discontinuation criteria of the SG Arrival Card system, as raised by Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung described the health declaration as an essential surveillance tool for managing non-endemic diseases like Yellow Fever and Mpox. He noted that approximately 240 symptomatic travelers are medically assessed monthly, while those from Yellow Fever endemic areas without valid vaccination certificates face quarantine. This system facilitates early detection to prevent high-risk infectious diseases from taking root in Singapore and will be updated for new emerging threats. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung concluded that the measure remains necessary as long as risks of importing non-endemic infectious diseases of concern persist.
Transcript
24 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Health (a) what measurable benefits has the SG Arrival Card system provided in terms of public health outcomes since its implementation; (b) what percentage of travellers have reported being unwell through the system; (c) of these, what percentage have been contacted for follow-up and what actions have been taken; (d) whether there are any plans to discontinue the use of the system at all checkpoints; and (e) if so, what are the criteria or conditions that will trigger such a decision.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The electronic Health Declaration through the SG Arrival Card is an essential public health surveillance measure to manage infectious diseases of concern, such as Yellow Fever, Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Mpox. Some of these diseases are already endemic in many countries, but not Singapore, which explains why we still retain this border measure. It facilitates the early detection of high-risk travellers and reduces the risk of such infectious diseases taking root in Singapore.
All travellers entering Singapore who declare symptoms and have relevant travel history are medically assessed. On average, there are about 240 such travellers per month. Further, travellers who are well and with recent travel history to Yellow Fever endemic countries but do not have a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, will be quarantined to protect against the risk of spread of Yellow Fever in Singapore.
The Ministry of Health will update the health declaration for new emerging infectious diseases when necessary. So long as there are risks of importing new emerging infectious diseases of concern that are not endemic in Singapore, there will be a need for the health declaration.