Government's Response to Recommendations for Medishield Life to Better Support Fertility Preservation for Young Cancer Patients
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Dr Tan Wu Meng’s inquiry on enhancing MediShield Life to better support fertility preservation for young cancer patients whose fertility may be compromised by medical treatments. Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam responded that patients can currently tap on MediSave for egg freezing and access government co-funding and MediSave for future assisted reproduction treatments. She clarified that while MediShield Life covers large hospital bills, the Ministry of Health is separately studying the extension of support for fertility preservation for various medical conditions. This review includes evaluating the adequacy of co-funding and support mechanisms, specifically taking into account the financial constraints of low-income patients and those with limited MediSave funds. Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam affirmed that the Ministry is looking into ways to ensure that all young patients, regardless of background, have the opportunity to preserve their fertility.
Transcript
8 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider augmenting the policy refresh accompanying the Government's acceptance of the MediShield Life Council's recommendations for the MediShield Life 2024 review by better supporting fertility preservation for young cancer patients whose fertility may be compromised as a consequence of cancer or medical treatment for cancer.
The Minister of State for Health (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, for young cancer patients who want to undergo fertility preservation, so that they can have children in the future, they can tap on MediSave for egg freezing. If they get married in the future and would like to use their eggs for Assisted Reproduction treatments, they can also receive Government co-funding support and use MediSave for their treatments.
We will study extending more support for such patients, separately from the MediShield Life 2024 review, bearing in mind there may be other medically necessary treatments for conditions besides cancer that could also affect fertility.
Mr Speaker: Dr Tan Wu Meng.
Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong): Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for her update. She mentioned the use of MediSave for young cancer patients needing help with fertility preservation. Would the Minister of State, firstly, agree that for some young cancer patients from families of limited means, especially if the patient has not yet started work, that patient may not have much MediSave? And if the family is disadvantaged, the family may also not have much MediSave. And therefore, would the Minister of State also agree this is an issue on the ground that the Ministry of Health (MOH) should look at, to ensure that young patients diagnosed early in life with cancer, regardless of background, have that chance at preserving their dreams of a family?
May I also declare as well that I am a medical doctor looking after cancer patients, including young cancer patients, at a public hospital.
Ms Rahayu Mahzam: Mr Speaker, I note the Member's deep interest in this matter and appreciate his enthusiasm. He has raised this matter in an Adjournment Motion previously and also in several Parliamentary Questions. Certainly, the Ministry is aware of and empathise with the situation faced by cancer patients, especially if they are of low income. And I can imagine it must be traumatic and devastating for them to go through this journey. As I have also explained, we are reviewing this matter.
MediShield Life is designed as a basic insurance scheme, covering large bills due to treatment of diseases in subsidised public hospitals. That is a separate thing. We are looking at this matter. We have also taken note of some of the suggestions Dr Tan has made in his Adjournment Motion. We will be looking at how we can continue to provide more support and see what is the adequacy of co-funding of other support that we can provide in fertility treatments of cancer patients.