Update on Ministry of Health’s Strategies on Managing COVID-19 Cases in Hospitals and Limiting Spread in the Community
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns multiple inquiries from Members of Parliament regarding healthcare capacity, testing strategies, and support for frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. MPs Ms Irene Quay Siew Ching, Mr Leon Perera, Ms Sylvia Lim, Ms Foo Mee Har, Mr Murali Pillai, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, and Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling raised points on resource prioritization, asymptomatic testing, and metrics for lifting circuit breaker measures. They further sought information on the viability of antibody testing for assessing herd immunity and the welfare of infected medical staff. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong responded by seeking permission to address all ten questions collectively during a Ministerial Statement later in the session. The Minister’s approach aimed to provide a comprehensive update on the Ministry’s strategies for managing hospital cases and limiting community spread.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Ms Irene Quay Siew Ching –
1 To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether Singapore has an ethical framework ready to prioritise resources and patients when our healthcare system reaches a breaking point due to widespread community transmission; and (b) what are the plans to ramp up our healthcare capacity to avoid the need for implementing such an ethical framework.
2 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to ensure the rapid scale-ability of our acute care infrastructure and ICU beds in the event of a rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalisation.
3 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health (a) what are the impediments to testing of asymptomatic individuals who are deemed to be at risk from COVID-19 due to proximity to those tested positive, or for other reasons; and (b) to what extent has testing been expanded to those who do not exhibit typical COVID-19 symptoms.
4 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the Government's current strategy and approach for COVID-19 testing; (b) whether the current testing approach is sufficient to provide reliable information about the spread of COVID-19 in the community; and (c) what is the Government's current and desired testing capacity for COVID-19.
5 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health whether the Government has plans for widespread use of antibody (serological) testing for COVID-19 to determine the extent of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Singapore population and identify those who are immune to the disease.
6 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health what are the metrics the Government will use to decide if the movement control measures such as those imposed under the current circuit breaker can be gradually lifted.
7 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Health (a) whether antibody tests are a valid way to assess the reach of the COVID-19 virus; and (b) whether such antibody tests can be used to assess the level of 'herd immunity' in the community and be part of the plan to gradually return the community to work.
8 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the impact of the increasing number of COVID-19 infection cases on the ability of our healthcare professionals in public service to provide health services to Singaporeans and Singaporean residents; and (b) whether there are plans to enlist the help of healthcare professionals in private practice or who have retired to bolster the number of healthcare professionals needed to deal with the pandemic.
9 Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Health (a) how many healthcare workers have been infected by the COVID-19 virus; (b) in how many of these cases have the workers been infected in their line of duty; and (c) what measures are in place to support healthcare workers and their families should they fall ill with the virus while fulfilling their duties.
10 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Health in respect of healthcare workers who are working long shifts during this COVID-19 outbreak, whether they will be provided with some form of compensation or wellness support in terms of leave and mental care when the COVID-19 situation stabilises.
Ms Anthea Ong (Nominated Member): Question No 1, Sir.
The Minister for Health (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Speaker, Sir, I will be making a Ministerial Statement later. May I have your permission to take Question Nos 1 to 10 in my Statement instead.
Mr Speaker: Please do. Mr Liang Eng Hwa.