1) SingHealth-related News
a) SHP doctor on the Family Physician scheme
ST MYB (p6-7) carried a feature on the Family Physician (FP) scheme at polyclinics which allows patients with chronic diseases to see a regular senior doctor directly without queuing in the general queue. It noted that more patients have enrolled in the Family Physician (FP) scheme, available at all the polyclinics, to better manage diseases. In general, patients need to pay between $8.50 and $14.60 extra in consultation fees. Although it costs more per consultation, more patients are willing to see such family physicians at the polyclinics. It quoted Dr Paul Goh, director of Tampines Polyclinic and a senior consultation family physician, who said "Patients benefit because we can spend more time educating them and the staff are senior doctors and nurses." In 2005, SHP had seen 289 patients and the figure had increased to 19,012 last year. For the increased consultation fee, FP patients spend a longer time with their family physicians and other health-care professionals. The fees charged are still at subsidised rates and patients also get subsidies for medication and laboratory tests. The polyclinics assured that the senior doctors also attend to the general patients when they do not have any appointment with the FP patients.
b) SGH doctor on joint problems
ST MYB (p12-13) reported that joint problems are not just the concern of the elderly. Young people may also suffer premature joint degeneration either through disease or injury from high-impact sports. SGH patient, Ms Nurrashidah Mokhtar who suffered joint deterioration when she was only 22 years old was interviewed. Eight years ago, an aching pain in her right thigh was mirrored in her left leg a few months later. The pain got so bad that she was not even able to bend over to clip her toenails. Thinking the pain would go away, Ms Nurrashidah bore with it through two pregnancies and used her children's pram for support instead of a walking stick. According to Dr Yeo Seng Jin, senior consultant at SGH's department of orthopaedic surgery, Ms Nurrashidah has avascular necrosis in both hips, which led to blood supply to the hips being disrupted, destroying the hip joint. Dr Yeo carried out total hip replacement surgery on both her hips last year. In SGH, a total of 148 hip replacements were performed last year. In 2005, there were 120 such cases.
c) NNI doctor on predicting one's chance of getting an illness
ST MYB (p4) reported that experts say a growing trend of developing tests that can predict the chances of an illness, such as Alzheimer's, striking has the potential to save lives and medical costs. It quoted neurologist Nagaendran Kandiah of NNI who added that better predictive tests can also help nip diseases in the bud. He said "In diseases like dementia, the extend of brain damage worsens over time. Therefore, if doctors can screen for and diagnose the disease in its early stages, patients can be treated before permanent brain damage occurs. Otherwise, patients may seek medical help early but their efforts will be in vain if we don't have the tools to pinpoint the ailment."
d) SHP gets Northern Hemisphere vaccine
ST MYB (p18) carried an article on the stocks of flu jabs in the clinics. It mentioned that for the past three months, some clinics here had either been running low on the Southern Hemisphere flue vaccine of had run out of it, due to the peark holiday travel season and the flu season which coincided with June. However, it is Septemeber and the latest flu vaccine - the Northern Hemisphere vaccine should soon be available. Some of the first few clinics to get the Northern Hemisphere vaccine are SingHealth's nine polyclinicis. A spokesman said that they have had stocks of the new Northern strain seasonal flu vaccine since last Thursday. The spokesman added that 500 doses are now available and an additional 600 will be available next Monday. Frequent travellers should consider getting the flu jab.
e) Online reactions: Accident victim denied outpatient treatment and
medication by CGH
Temasek Review carried a letter from De Costa Daniel Augustine on CGH’s apparent refusal to render him financial assistance. CGH has repeatedly stated that his parents’ income have exceeded the ceiling criteria, although the writer claims otherwise. The post drew 33 largely anti-establishment comments, although some netizens were wondering if the writer would need additional medical assistance for the $9.80 owed to CGH, and also find his argument somewhat flawed.
2) Local Health News
a) NTU-Imperial medical school to admit 50 students in 2013
ST (pA11), BT (p4) and TV news reported that Education Minister Ng Eng Hen shared details on the partnership between NTU and Imperial College London on Singapore’s third medical school and said that it will take in its first 50 students in 2013. Dr Ng shared that the medical school will offer a five-year undergraduate degree jointly awarded by NTU and Imperial and will grow to take in 150 students a year eventually. He also said the figure was based on the MOH’s long term projections of demographic changes and healthcare demands of Singapore’s aging population. Report noted that already, rising demand for doctors has led to stepped-up recruitment of 200 foreign-trained doctors this year. NUS’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine annual intake will rise to its maximum of 300 students next year, and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School took in 56 students last year. The partnership agreement between NTU and Imperial lasts an initial 18 years and the school will be governed by a board with representatives from the two universities, MOE, MOH and the NHG, the school’s primary clinical training partner. Leading the medical school are founding dean Stephen Smith, principal of Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine, and senior vice-dean Martyn Partridge, Imperial’s Chair in Respiratory Medicine, who will work on the project full-time in London and Singapore. Report added NTU president Su Guan’s comment that the new medical school will "not just train the best clinicians but also make a deep impact on the innovation of medical devices and the healthcare system as a whole". Provost Bertil Anderson also added that the autonomous school of NTU will not duplicate NUS’ offering but train excellent doctors in an interdisciplinary way, to "learn the engineering behind new medical devices, as well as health economics and management skills at the Nanyang Business School". The school will also work closely with NTU's engineering department, which has a decade-long track record of producing the medical devices together with SGH. TDY (p4) carried a similar report highlighting that it was a "medical school with a difference" as students could learn about health economics and how to run a clinic. My Paper (pA2) added that Imperial is ranked as one of the top five universities in the world. ZB (p7) further noted that the demand of doctors has been increasing and that MOH has over the last three years recruited 1,246 overseas-trained doctors to meet the rising demand. The report also added that as of last year, there are 6,337 local doctors here and this is around 76 per cent of the total number of doctors in Singapore. The remaining 24% are foreign doctors. The report also noted MOH saying that with the opening of the third medical school, it expects the proportion of Singaporean doctors to increase and it will continue to monitor the situation to make sure there are enough doctors to meet our healthcare needs in the long term.
b) GP’s fees: discretion rules
ST MYB (p10) reported on the recent ruling by the Competition Commission of Singapore against guidelines for GP bills suggested by SMA. A check with more than 16 clinics in Bedok showed that consultation fees were lower or within the previous SMA guidelines of $20-$30. Doctors said that they have not been following the guidelines for years and that they were flexible with their charges, sometimes charging lower for elderly or needy patients. One doctor said that she sometimes lowers the consultation fees if the cost of the medication is high. One doctor said that the consultation fee is immaterial as a doctor may charge a low fee but markup the price of drugs. MYB noted that consultation fees for doctors in other locations like Bukit Timah and Orchard Road would differ with some charging up to $50. A box story noted that while most clinics do not give itemised bills as required by MOH, they did not hesitate to provide one when asked. When asked, doctors said that most patients do not need itemised bills so it is not provided to save time, and that it was not an act to hide charges. Most clinics did comply with the guideline of displaying charges. The article provided MOH’s hotline number and email for the public to contact the ministry in cases where doctors do not meet the above guidelines.
c) Many over-50s not eating properly
ST (pB6) reported that those aged over-50 were not having a balanced diet that meets HPB recommendations, according to a survey of 421 people. Almost three in 10 respondents were found to be at moderate or high risk of malnutrition, which raises their risk of falls, fractures and infections. Dr Chan Kin Ming, founding member of the Society for Geriatric Medicine, said that it was important to discover the numbers at risk, as the aging population coupled with malnutrition could cause health problems that can increase healthcare costs. Those older and living alone in one- or two-room HDB flats are more at risk of malnutrition. Dr Chan encouraged GPs to screen patients for malnutrition risk on top of checking their BMI. CNA, TDY (p12), SM (p9), WB (p9) and ZB (p13) carried similar reports.
d) S'pore dengue victims tend to be older, says specialist
ST (pB6) reported that Singapore dengue victims tend to be older than those in developing countries thus treatment modes for older patients are required. In Singapore, 24 out of 28 adults who died of dengue between 2004 -2008 were older than 45. Older patients exhibit fewer symptoms hence doctors do not suspect dengue and order tests early. Last year WHO issued a new set of dengue guidelines that helps doctors more accurately predict if an adult patient's illness will become more serious. Associate Prof Leo Yee Sin of the CDC is leading a $25 million national study that will address issues of older patients, developing anti-dengue drugs and genome analysis among others. The study started in 2008 and will end in 2013. My Paper (pA2), Ch 8, Ch U and ZB (p16) carried similar reports.
e) 3Rs put ICM Pharma on the road to success
BT (p10) featured ICM Pharma, a company started by Koe Khoon Poh and now stocks its wares at pharmacy shelves all over Singapore. Report noted that the secret of his success is the 3Rs' right products, right timing and right people. It added that Mr Koe has kept ICM Pharma afloat even in the face of stiff competition from global pharmaceutical manufacturers and by combining TCM with established western functional ingredients. It was also mentioned that Mr Koe has always been actively involved in the pharmaceutical profession, having been elected president for four terms at the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, and was eventually elected a fellow in 1986. Even today, Mr Koe is still enthusiastically urging the profession to keep up with times. Since people are turning to self-medication for minor ailments, the role of pharmacists will become increasingly important. Hence, it is imperative that pharmacists constantly upgrade themselves to aid people in responsible self-medication, which is the most critical part of their professional responsibilities. ICM Pharma is developing a series of products under the different banners of personal health, personal care and home care products. They will cater to the aging population and basic primary healthcare needs of the general public.
4) Internet News
a) The Vampires Strike Back (And Some Umpires Too)
A Clean Breast of It posted the feedback she has received from friends regarding her Prudential policy and the non-coverage of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). She was also told to make sure her hospitalisation plans (Medishield Plus) are auto-renewed, as there have been cases where a lapse in payment will make the policy null and void. Even then, there were cases where CPF did not automatically transfer the annual premium of a CPF-deducted plan to the insurance company. The lady in question, who suffered from cancer, was not able to claim for her hospitalisation because of this.
5) Other Health News
a) Philippine dengue patients turned away by hospitals
My Paper World Round-Up (pA10) briefly reported that according to ABS-CBN news, some hospitals in the Philippines are turning away suspected dengue patients due to overcrowding, as cases of the disease spiked dramatically in the country.
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