Progress Update on Enhancing Detection and Treatment of Occupational Diseases

53 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower for an update on the progress of the Ministry's efforts to enhance measures for (a) earlier detection of Occupational Diseases (OD); and (b) diagnosis, classification and treatment of OD cases.

Dr Tan See Leng: To enhance early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Occupational Diseases (ODs), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has: (a) increased the number of workplaces placed under our proactive health surveillance programme from 1,200 in 2020 to 3,500 in 2025 to better support OD prevention among workers who are at risk; (b) updated the Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of ODs to provide doctors with further guidance on the detection, diagnosis and appropriate treatment for ODs; (c) included all occupational infectious diseases in healthcare, research facilities and laboratory settings and all work-related musculoskeletal disorders as reportable and compensable ODs with effect from 1 December 2025; and (d) simplified the reporting process for doctors at the primary care level to facilitate earlier detection and interventions.

MOM will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health, the National Trades Union Congress, medical practitioners and industry partners in the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Health to enhance the detection and management of ODs.