About 67,000 people have signed up for Healthier SG since registration started
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre, in red) and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung (third from right) launching the Healthier SG roadshow on July 8.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
SINGAPORE - About 67,000 people have signed up for Healthier SG, Singapore’s preventive care strategy,
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung gave this update on the sidelines of the first Healthier SG roadshow on Saturday, which was held at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the event as its guest of honour.
“It has been only a few days, but every day we are seeing about 4,000 enrolled. So, I will say there is some cadence, some momentum, but it is a long journey,” said Mr Ong.
Registration opened for those aged 60 years and above last Wednesday. Those eligible will be invited through an SMS from the Health Ministry to enrol via the HealthHub app. They can then choose their preferred Healthier SG clinic or polyclinic, and book an appointment for the first free consultation.
The total number of sign-ups includes individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure who have enrolled with general practitioners (GPs) since May.
Healthier SG, announced in 2022, aims to get family doctors to help individuals take charge of their health.
Residents who sign up with Healthier SG can get free annual check-ups and nationally recommended vaccinations like flu shots.
In 2024, prices of medicine at GP clinics will be lowered to be closer to those at polyclinics to encourage people to stick with a family doctor.
“Enrolment is just the first step. After that, they have to turn up for the first appointment, and after that they have to follow up,” said Mr Ong.
“We do hope that within the next one to two years, we can enrol the majority of those who are targeted.”
As at July 1, more than 900 GP clinics have signed up for the initiative. Healthier SG is expected to benefit over two million Singapore residents aged 40 and above by the end of 2024.
The weekend event at the park is the first of 17 roadshows from July to November that the ministry has organised to reach out to eligible residents.
About 1,000 Healthier SG ambassadors will also be deployed to help residents through the enrolment process.
Seniors who are not digitally literate can head down to community centres and clubs to get help from the ambassadors, said Mr Ong. “As for those who are not mobile, I think at some point, our teams will have to pay them a visit in their homes and get them enrolled.”
Serangoon resident Liew Poh Kiat, 67, signed up for the initiative on Saturday and chose Hougang Polyclinic, which he currently goes to when he has common ailments such as the flu.
“I found out that I had lung cancer two years ago, and it has since been in stable condition. I hope to improve my health,” Mr Liew said in Mandarin. “I go for walks and do stretching exercises.”
Ang Mo Kio resident Cindy Goh, 60, chose Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic when signing up. She said: “I go there now for check-ups, blood tests and to get high blood pressure medicine. And every Sunday, I go for walks with different groups to different parts of Singapore.”
Speaking to the media, Mr Ong said: “We are looking at people who have lived half their lives. In this second half of our lives, priorities change.” Some might want to continue working, while others want to see their children grow up or may want to travel or learn a new skill, he added.
“Ultimately, whatever our answer is, we can’t run away (from the fact that) if we want to achieve all these in the second half of our lives, we need to be healthy,” he said.
“So, I hope with system support, with community encouragement, we can empower the individual to have that commitment to take the first step today towards a healthier lifestyle.”
