Extension of "Smaller Bites to Swallow Right" Campaign aimed at the Elderly to Hawker Centres

50 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health regarding the Smaller Bites to Swallow Right campaign initiated by Alexandra Hospital (a) whether the campaign will be extended to other hawker centres; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider providing incentives for this campaign, such as special vouchers, for the elderly with swallowing difficulties, to be redeemed at the participating stalls.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Dysphagia is a swallowing impairment which can occur due to multiple medical conditions. The prevalence of dysphagia increases with advancing age. In October last year, Alexandra Hospital (AH) started a pilot – Smaller Bites to Swallow Right (SBSR) campaign – to help their dysphagia patients. Such patients or their caregivers can ask participating stalls or hawker centres to get their food chopped, minced or pureed at no charges.

The campaign had started at Alexandra Village Food Centre and ABC Brickworks Food Centre, as well as Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant. AH intends to expand it to Mei Ling Market and Food Centre and Tanglin Halt Food Centre by 2H 2022.

MOH will learn from AH’s experience and work with other stakeholders to explore expanding participation at other food establishments.