Policy Review of Cardiovascular Health Prevention, Treatments and Expansion of Community-based Rehabilitation Programmes

17 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) over the past five years, whether the Ministry has assessed out-of-pocket costs faced by heart patients on lifelong medication; (b) how do cost pressures affect long-term treatment compliance; and (c) whether additional subsidies or financing support are being considered.

18 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) over the past five years, what structured follow-up care has been provided to patients after hospitalisation for heart attacks; (b) how adherence to medication and lifestyle changes is monitored post-discharge; and (c) whether community-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes will be expanded.

19 Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) over the past five years, whether the Ministry has identified gaps in early detection of heart disease among working-age adults; (b) how cardiovascular screening uptake differs by income and occupation; and (c) whether targeted or subsidised screening will be expanded for higher-risk groups.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Comprehensive cardiovascular care entails prevention, treatment and long-term management.

Beyond health promotion efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles, Healthier SG screening provides subsidised screening for diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Eligible Singapore Citizens who are enrolled with Healthier SG enjoy fully subsidised cardiovascular risk factor screening at their enrolled Healthier SG clinic. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also extended subsidies to eligible individuals and their family members to undergo genetic testing for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), as those with FH are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Patients may also consult their doctor on targeted screenings which are clinically appropriate for them based on their risk profile.

Based on the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2024, cardiovascular risk factor screening rates among residents have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, with higher screening participation from residents with post-secondary education than residents with primary or secondary education.

For patients with cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks, structured follow-up care following hospitalisation is provided at Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) and primary care settings. This includes regular reviews to optimise control of risk factors and lifestyle interventions, such as smoking cessation and dietary modifications. Suitable patients may also be referred to cardiac rehabilitation programmes provided by Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) or social service agencies, such as the Singapore Heart Foundation. Patients may also receive support from primary care doctors under Healthier SG and at Community Health Posts to stay on track with their care plans.

Cardiovascular patients may benefit from subsidies of up to 75% for drugs on the Standard Drug List and the Medication Assistance Fund list, including lifelong drugs used to manage cardiovascular conditions. They may also make annual MediSave withdrawals of up to $700 for the management of cardiovascular conditions on the Chronic Disease Management Programme in SOCs and primary care settings, depending on the complexity of their condition. Additionally, seniors aged 60 and above may tap on an additional $400 per year from the Flexi-MediSave scheme. We regularly review these schemes to ensure that patients' treatments are kept affordable at our PHIs. Patients in our PHIs who face affordability challenges after subsidy and MediSave may apply for additional financial assistance, such as MediFund.

MOH is committed to providing comprehensive cardiovascular care and ensuring that essential cardiovascular treatments remain accessible and affordable through our healthcare system.