A Health Ministry spokesman attributed the drop to improved accessibility to polyclinics, as well as falling numbers of older-generation Pioneers, some of whom are in their 90s or over 100 years old. The introduction of annual limits for certain dental treatments may also have contributed to the drop, she said.
Dr Jeremy Lim of consultancy firm Oliver Wyman said there is usually an uptick when new schemes are introduced but it is rarely sustained once the novelty wears off.
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