Minister Ong Ye Kung outlines key steps for strengthening Singapore’s healthcare system
SINGAPORE: Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung has announced significant plans to restructure the Ministry of Health (MOH) and update Singapore’s Infectious Diseases Act (IDA) in preparation for future pandemics. Speaking in parliament on March 21, 2023, during a debate on the White Paper that reviewed Singapore’s Covid-19 response, Ong highlighted key initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s healthcare readiness.
The new strategy includes the establishment of a Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), a Healthcare Reserve Force, and a Crisis Strategy and Operations Group (CSOG) to ensure the country can respond more effectively to future crises. Additionally, Ong stressed that Singapore’s current infectious disease legislation is outdated and too broad, and will be revised to accommodate the complexities of future health emergencies.
Ong emphasized that Singapore’s approach during the Covid-19 pandemic was guided by three critical decisions: protecting hospital capacity, ensuring strong public support for vaccination, and making the right call to open up once a high level of population immunity was reached. He reflected that these decisions were instrumental in preventing the country’s healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
Key Areas for Improvement
Ong outlined six major areas where Singapore’s healthcare system can improve:
Strengthening pandemic preparedness and response
Increasing hospital capacity
Restructuring MOH
Updating public health legislation
Securing vaccines and medical supplies for future crises
Recognising the progress made during the pandemic
To bolster hospital capacity, Ong revealed that transitional care facilities (TCFs), which were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, will remain in operation. These facilities will continue to provide care for stable patients, allowing hospitals to focus on more urgent cases.
Restructuring MOH and Strengthening Crisis Response
MOH will undergo a restructuring, drawing lessons from the SARS outbreak in 2003. Ong noted that the pandemic revealed the need for a more flexible and comprehensive approach to healthcare crises, including the development of tailored responses for different types of pathogens. The new CDA will focus on disease preparedness, prevention, and surveillance, while the CSOG will be retained for surge readiness in the event of future health emergencies.
Updates to Legislation
Ong highlighted the need to modernize Singapore’s infectious disease laws. He criticised the existing IDA for being too “blunt and heavy,” with powers that were disproportionate to the needs of the Covid-19 crisis. While the IDA allows the government to declare a public health emergency, the Covid-19 pandemic did not trigger such a declaration. Instead, temporary measures were enacted under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act.
Ong revealed that the government is working to replace the DORSCON colour-coding system with four more intuitive tiers: Baseline, Outbreak Management, Public Health Threat, and Public Health Emergency. This revision is intended to provide clearer guidance for the public and outline specific actions for each level of public health threat.
Moving Forward
As part of the restructuring, Kenneth Mak will assume the title of Director General of Health, a change that reflects the evolving role of MOH in overseeing both clinical and public health aspects of healthcare. This restructuring is expected to enhance Singapore’s ability to manage future health emergencies with greater efficiency and responsiveness.
In conclusion, Ong’s speech underscored Singapore’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system in the face of future health challenges. The changes being implemented are designed to ensure that the country remains resilient, adaptable, and prepared for the next global health crisis.
