SINGAPORE - Nearly one in two people screened at a public health screening event last year were found to be at risk of developing chronic disease.

Speaking at this year's edition of the health screening programme on Saturday (Oct 8), Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min said 46 per cent of all screening participants last year were found to have abnormalities in at least one chronic disease indicator.

"This percentage is high. But screening is only the first step towards better control of your health," he said.

The annual health screening event, called the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Public Health Service, is being organised for the 11th time by the National University of Singapore (NUS) medical students at Clementi Avenue 3. It will run over this weekend (Oct 8 and 9), starting from 10am for both days.

The event is open to Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents aged 40 and above.

This year, a new screening component for hearing has been introduced. What this means is that participants aged 60 years and above can receive preliminary tests on site.

If abnormalities are detected, the participant will be referred for further screening at the NUH Mobile Hearing Clinic Bus, which will be stationed at Clementi on two separate days during the week just after the Public Health Service screening.