Singapore residents are being encouraged to enrol in the Healthier SG programme, with those aged 60 and above being the first to enrol in July.
Singapore residents who enrol in the voluntary Healthier SG programme and complete their first onboarding health consultation will receive S$20 worth of health points through the Healthy 365 app, according to the Ministry of Health. Pre-enrolment will start in May. Those aged 40 and above and already seeing a Healthier SG-registered general practitioner (GP) regularly can pre-enrol. Meanwhile national enrolment will start in July, beginning with those aged 60 and above.
Healthier SG is a voluntary programme that aims to provide better health results for the population. The initiative is activating family doctors to achieve this goal. The Healthier SG clinic will provide free recommended health screenings and vaccinations. Also, the government will pay for the first face-to-face health consultation upon successful enrolment. Users get to exchange the health points for vouchers from merchants through the Healthy 365 app. Merchants include Fairprice and Transitlink.
The government is also introducing a new subsidy framework early next year aimed at keeping the cost of medication affordable for patients with complex chronic diseases. Under the Healthier SG programme, the framework will provide subsidies for an approved list of medications at enrolled Healthier SG GP clinics at around the same price as polyclinics. Patients will also receive subsidies of up to S$360 per year for other uses of their chronic care. They include consultation and lab tests. The new framework will be an option for CHAS cardholders with higher chronic medication needs and bills.
Moreover, patients paying with MediSave for the treatment of chronic illnesses will no longer have to co-pay 15% of the bill using cash. This will be in force from early next year. Instead, they can pay the full amount with MediSave, up to the MediSave500/700 limit.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung emphasised that the government wants to urge everyone to enrol with a family doctor. Their stance is that they are the best place to guide residents to better health. Currently, Singapore has about 1,600 GP clinics focused on primary care. Consequentlym Healthier SG clinic is working with them to secure most of them to be partners in Healthier SG.
In conclusion, the government is urging Singaporeans to enrol in Healthier SG. Firstly, those aged 60 and above will enrol in July. This will include free recommended health checks, vaccinations, and a health consultation with a Healthier SG clinic. Upon successful sign up, residents will receive S$20 worth of health points through the Healthy 365 app. The government is also planning to introduce a new subsidy framework early next year aimed at keeping the cost of medication affordable for patients with complex chronic diseases.
