Forum: Singapore Cancer Society remains committed to early cancer detection and support 

We thank Mr Ho Kheng Tiong for his letter, “End of free test kit distribution can hurt fight against cancer” (July 14).

The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is deeply committed to early cancer detection and community outreach. We agree that screening and early detection save lives and appreciate Mr Ho’s feedback on the accessibility of faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits.

SCS is proud to have distributed more than one million FIT kits to the community over more than 20 years. The shift away from direct FIT kit distribution by SCS was guided by the Ministry of Health (MOH) as part of the broader national shift under its Healthier SG strategy.

While SCS no longer distributes FIT kits, we remain a steadfast partner in the nation’s fight against cancer. We continue to offer other types of screening such as cervical screening and mammograms at no cost to eligible individuals at our SCS Clinic @ Bishan. 

In addition, SCS actively supports the community by raising awareness on the importance of cancer screening, reaching out through free health talks and community programmes, and helping individuals understand available cancer screening options.

As a longstanding partner in Singapore’s cancer prevention and care journey for over 60 years, we remain committed to working closely with MOH and our healthcare and community partners to ensure that cancer screenings remain accessible and available to all in Singapore.

Cancer screening is important and saves lives. If you or someone you know is unsure where to start, please contact us via our website or call our helpline (1800-727-3333). We will be glad to help. 

Tan Kwang Cheak
CEO, Singapore Cancer Society