More Resources to Support Provision of Medical Escort Services for Elderly from Lower-income Households

28 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry can provide additional dedicated resources and funding for social service agencies to scale up hiring and training capabilities to support the provision of medical escort services for the elderly from lower-income households who need help to move around and have no caregiver or whose caregiver is unable to provide support because of their own health and physical condition.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health provides funding for Medical Escort and Transport (MET) services which help frail seniors to attend medical appointments if they are unable to do so independently. MET capacity is generally sufficient, though with our ageing population, we will need more in the future.

Hence, the Government provides grants to community care organisations, social service agencies and professionals, such as the Community Silver Trust and the Professional Capability Grant, for capability building. Providers can also tap on manpower recruitment and training initiatives under the Agency for Integrated Care. These include courses relating to safe management of seniors with mobility needs.