1)       SingHealth-related News

a)         SGH doctor on obstructive sleep apnoea

WB (4 Sep, p6) reported that people with obstructive sleep apnoea should not sleep on their back, but rather sleep on their side. This is to avoid the tongue folding back, obstructing the airway. The report also cited online advice which suggests that couples or parents and their children should not sleep face-to-face. This is not only unhygienic, but also leads to a lack of oxygen, according to these reports. Dr Lim Li Ling, Director of the Sleep Disorders Unit at SGH, reassured readers saying that there is currently no evidence for this claim and if there are no special circumstances people should sleep in whatever position is most comfortable for them.

b)         50 to 60 per cent of people with rhinitis allergic to cockroaches, according
            to SGH study

SMDN (4 Sep, p8) reported that a study, carried out by SGH's ENT department between 2004 and 2005 involving 1,000 people with rhinitis, found that 60.7 per cent are allergic to American cockroaches and 55.1 per cent are allergic to German cockroaches. The SGH research noted that rhinitis is one of the most common types of allergies seen here.

c)         NCCS doctors on possible link between hair dye and bladder cancer

SMDN (4 Sep, p6) reported that there is a suspected link between hair dye and bladder cancer, after a man in Taiwan, who had been dying his hair regularly for more than 10 years, was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Dr Koo Wen Hsin and Dr Lim Soon Thye, both senior consultants at NCCS, said that while such a link may exist, people should not jump to conclusions because the cause of cancer is very complex. Although many studies into this link have been carried out, there has not been any conclusive evidence to date.

d)         SGH parking fees too expensive - $85 for 2 days

SMDN (3 Sep, p6) reported that a man, who parked his car at SGH for two days while his wife gave birth, incurred an $85 parking bill. The story was first published last week in The Straits Times. The man asked that the hospital tier its charges to differentiate between caregivers and normal visitors. An SGH spokesperson commented that short-term parking is billed by the minute; visitors who estimate that they will be in the hospital for longer will usually use public transport, or make alternative arrangements. The report noted that the weekday hourly charges for SGH are $2.16, while the lowest hourly charge is $1.08 (during Sundays and public holidays, 7 am - 9.59 pm). It also compared the fees at other hospitals for similar situations where the wife is in labour, and found that Thomson Medical Centre offers parking benefits or free parking for the patient, as typically they stay around three nights. KKH’s parking is $12 for one full day.

e)         Letter: Give priority to those who have not eaten at polyclinics

TDY (4-5 Sept, p8) carried a letter from Low Khai Lin, who suggested that priority at polyclinics should be given to those who have not eaten. The writer's mother went to Sengkang Polyclinic for a follow-up blood test. She had to wait two hours to get her blood drawn. As the writer’s mother had not eaten for 8-10 hours prior to the drawing of blood, she was frustrated with the wait. The writer suggested that priority should be given to those who have not eaten, or to add an additional station for such cases.

2)         Local Health News

a)         Team effort crucial in healthcare: SM Goh

ST (4 Sep, pB2) reported that Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who was the guest of honour at NUH's 25th anniversary, urged doctors to go beyond the confines of their specialties and work hand in hand with other doctors in treating patients. His call for integrated care was prompted by comments that doctors are too specialised and do not look at patient as a whole but only the specific problem they are treating. He added that similarly healthcare professionals like pharmacists and nurses should work as a team with a patient’s care manager. Mr Goh called on doctors to improve their interpersonal and communication skills and play a bigger role in educating patients to stay healthy. Nurses with advanced degree and postgraduate qualifications should also initiate pre-treatment investigations and help develop health management plans to free doctors to focus on more complex cases and reduce waiting times for patients. Mr Goh encouraged NUH to lead the way in measuring the clinical and cost-effectiveness of treatments. He also launched a coffee table book called 24/7. Two of NUH senior doctors , Professor Lee Eng Hin, paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and Associate Professor Peter George Manning, were given the Emeritus Consultant Award for their contributions which included training young clinicians and building up NUH’s emergency department respectively. CNA (3 Sep), TDY (4-5 Sep, p4) and BT (4-5 Sep, p17) carried similar reports.

b)         Team of 'rebels' behind NUH

ST (4 Sep, pA18) republished the Minister's message in NUH's 25th anniversary book, titled 24/7. He reminisced about the challenges and opportunities as the first CEO of NUH and the many firsts the hospital accomplished. The list included the introduction of day surgery and kidney dialysis in the community. He mentioned working with the late Prof S.S.Ratnam on infertility and obstetrics and making a lot of headway. He expressed gratitude for the sensible and creative rebels who headed the many departments that made much progress. He also shared that NUH attempted to make the hospital look less hospital-like to make it less intimidating for patients, efforts that included working with McDonald's to do up a children-friendly X-ray suite. He encouraged NUH to continue to be "perennially motivated to want to make life better for our patients" and ended the message encouraging the hospital in its lead position in Singapore healthcare.

c)         Caution issued for slimming drug Reductil

CH 8 & CH U (3 Sep) reported that the latest American research has shown that individuals with underlying health conditions and who consume Reductil might have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. The report also highlighted HSA’s comments that to date, there have been three reported cases of individuals who had suffered side effects after taking Reductil. HSA noted that individuals who are taking the drug need to monitor for side effects and to consult a doctor immediately should they feel unwell. In the meantime, HSA is continuing to study and monitor the drug for safe use. 

d)         Stalking the silent killer

BT (4 Sep, pL14) reported that a new multi-biomarker test, 'OvPlex', developed by Australian company HealthLinx Limited, has been launched in Singapore as a test for early detection of ovarian cancer. Singapore is the third country in the world, in addition to Australia and the UK, where 'OvPlex' has been made available. The report noted that 'OvPlex' tests five substances in blood, one of which is CA125, a current biomarker indicator for ovarian cancer. It then combines information of CA125 and four other markers mathematically into one value, making the test more robust. It also noted that the test is not designed as a population screening kit and should not be used for testing risk for ovarian cancer.

3)         Other Health News

a)         Close friends key to changing health habits

ST (4 Sep, pC20) reported off Reuters that when it comes to changing people’s health habits, it is not enough to have support from a network of online friends with far-flung ties. To change behaviours, one need to be surrounded by the message - with neighbours, family and members of the community all reinforcing the same idea. The study published in the journal Science noted that the more difficult the behaviour and the more resistant it is to change, the more vital these densely clustered ties will be, and the more critical it is that the person hears the message from more than one source. The findings are deemed to be useful when developing strategies to promote vaccinations, health screenings as well as combating obesity.  

b)         Dengue cases nearly double in Philippines

ST (4 Sep, pC3) reported that the surge in dengue cases in the Philippines had left hospitals there struggling to cope. To date, there has been 465 deaths and 62,503 recorded dengue cases (an 89 per cent jump over the same period last year) with health authorities estimating that the disease could kill 800 by the year end. An unusually severe dry season caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon and improper water storage practices are being blamed for the spike. Worst hit areas included the main southern island of Mindanao and the Western Visayas in central Philippines. Hospitals have been operating "dengue express lanes" to screen patients showing symptoms and schools have been asking students to cover up with long sleeved shirts and pants as a preventive measure. Philippines Health Minister was quoted saying that the government was "on top" of the dengue outbreak as fatality rate has fallen over time to around 1 per cent of the total yearly cases ending in death, compared to 2 per cent a decade ago. Singapore's total dengue cases (3,138) in the first 34 weeks of the year which was lower than the same period last year and Malaysia's marked rise of 100 deaths as of August 23, compared to 67 for the whole of last year was also reported.

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