Measure of Success for New Healthy Longevity Clinic
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the measure of success and potential expansion of the Healthy Longevity Clinic at Alexandra Hospital, as raised by Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye. Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli B M M clarified that the clinic is currently a research project focused on developing future interventions, with no immediate plans for expansion to polyclinics. He distinguished the clinic from Healthier SG, noting that it involves intensive screenings intended for research data rather than the evidence-based population screenings available through existing national programs. The Minister emphasized that the project supports long-term health goals like Age Well SG by building the research capabilities necessary to help the population live long and healthy lives. He concluded that participation requires significant commitment, as the clinic’s results are primarily designed to guide longevity science rather than provide immediate personal clinical guidance.
Transcript
10 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Health (a) what will be the measure of success of the recently launched Healthy Longevity Clinic; and (b) whether there are plans to expand the services offered by the Healthy Longevity Clinic to other parts of Singapore, particularly polyclinics, when the current pilot at Alexandra Hospital proves to be successful.
The Second Minister for Health (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Minister for Health): The launch of the Healthy Longevity Clinic at Alexandra Hospital was very well covered in the media and generated much public interest. It is essentially a research project to try to develop effective and practical interventions for the future.
The clinic is therefore recruiting research participants for now, and there are currently no plans for the longevity clinic services to be offered at polyclinics and other public hospitals. But we hope with investments in research and development in longevity science and supported by national policies such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG, we will develop the capabilities to support our population to live long and healthy lives.
Mr Speaker: Mr Melvin Yong.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Radin Mas): Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. I think the pilot clinic is at Alexandra Hospital, which is very near to my Radin Mas constituency. So, the residents have been quite excited over it.
It seems that the goal of the Healthy Longevity Clinic seems to have many parallels with the national Healthier SG programme, as both seek similar direction to enhance health spans by preventing and managing chronic conditions. I would like to ask the Minister; can he clarify what are the key differences between these two programmes? As I read from the news article, the Healthy Longevity Clinic has been designed to serve as an affordable alternative to private clinics with more affordable tests and treatments.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: I think unfortunately, the title "Healthy Longevity Clinic" will attract a lot of people who want to live long. Every one of us want to. But what it actually is, is a research project and it is different from evidence-based screening where it is available on a population basis and already clinical tests, like blood tests, metabolic immune cardiovascular tests, they are all already available under existing programmes and for many of us, it is highly subsidised. So, I would recommend that those who want and should be testing for their health, want to diagnose whether they have something going on that will affect their health, go for these programmes.
Whereas this project is really a barrage of screening tests beyond what a person would normally go through. It takes a lot of discipline, it takes a lot of commitment and therefore, unless you are committed to be a research participant, I would beseech that you do not participate because this takes a lot of time, and the results are not meant to guide your health but to guide research.