Expected Cost Savings for Government from Pursuit of Healthier SG Initiative

12 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health what is the expected overall cost savings of the healthcare budget in the next five years as a result of pursuing the Healthier SG initiative.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker. Healthier SG is the correct policy to focus on to reduce the prevalence of diseases as our population ages. It is too early to give a robust budgetary estimate. The work has just begun, and the focus now is to get everyone on board and making sure everyone understands and buys into the mission objective.

Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Speaker. And I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for her reply. I take the point that it is too early.

When does the Ministry of Health plan to move towards this new healthcare financing model under Healthier SG? Because Healther SG is coming up in the middle of the year, so some residents have asked: what are some of the costs involved.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: I thank the Member for the query. We can address some of these issues as they come along. And when we are ready, we can and will make the appropriate announcements of the changes that will impact these residents.