Forum: Longer-term support needed for care transport sector

I welcome our Government’s move to support essential transport operators (Operators of essential bus services to get temporary government support to cope with higher fuel costs, April 9).

The temporary support, covering 13 per cent of transport fare revenue from April to June 2026, will empower not only school bus operators but also care transport providers to manage rising fuel costs and keep fares stable in the near term, in the light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

At the same time, this also highlights the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of care transport in Singapore. As our population ages, safe and reliable transport for aged seniors, persons with disabilities and hospital patients will remain an essential bridge in our nation’s care ecosystem.

In my role at local care transport provider Shalom Medcare and as a patient advocate at the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network, I have observed transport as the crucial last mile in the care journey. For clients who require assisted transfers, including those in older estates, these services are not easily substituted. Many operators continue to operate within tight margins while managing rising manpower and maintenance costs.

While short-term subsidies help alleviate immediate cost pressures, a longer-term approach may be worth considering. This could be in the form of baseline co-funding tied to essential services provision, alongside sustained financial relief for care transport operators, whose services are increasingly vital to meet the evolving needs of our rapidly ageing population.

Such measures would help ensure that care transport remains accessible and affordable for those who rely on these essential services daily, and complement our nation’s efforts to build an ageing-ready society.

Shalom Lim Ern Rong