Singapore to roll out haze subsidies at GP clinics, polyclinics from Oct 12

Eligible Singaporeans will pay no more than S$10 for treatment of haze-related conditions, said the Ministry of Health.

Patients at a polyclinic in Singapore. (File photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will activate the haze subsidy scheme at Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) and polyclinics from Monday (Oct 12), as air quality deteriorates across the country due to transboundary haze.

All Singapore citizens will be eligible for the subsidies at polyclinics, while eligibility at participating PHPCs will be limited to certain groups, including children and seniors.

Public Assistance cardholders will receive fully subsidised care, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will pay no more than S$5 (US$3.90), while fees for other eligible Singaporeans will be capped at S$10.

The haze subsidy scheme was last activated in 2015, when Singapore experienced one of its worst haze episodes as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia affected the region for weeks.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The ministry will also activate the PHPC scheme, which aims to coordinate primary care responses and provide subsidised care during health alerts and emergencies, including haze and more recently for COVID-19. Speaking to reporters at an event at Bukit Canberra on Sunday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said he had observed a week-on-week increase in patients with respiratory issues at emergency departments, with polyclinics also seeing more such cases. People with more serious conditions should continue to seek treatment at emergency departments, but respiratory issues that can be managed at the primary care level should be treated at clinics instead, Mr Ong added. “We are very careful in protecting that resource because people need to go there for life and death situations,” he said, referring to emergency departments. “We want to make sure we give people assurance … that doctors, family physicians, can take care of you,” he said.

The ministry will also activate the PHPC scheme, which aims to coordinate primary care responses and provide subsidised care during health alerts and emergencies, including haze and more recently for COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters at an event at Bukit Canberra on Sunday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said he had observed a week-on-week increase in patients with respiratory issues at emergency departments, with polyclinics also seeing more such cases.

People with more serious conditions should continue to seek treatment at emergency departments, but respiratory issues that can be managed at the primary care level should be treated at clinics instead, Mr Ong added.

“We are very careful in protecting that resource because people need to go there for life and death situations,” he said, referring to emergency departments.

“We want to make sure we give people assurance … that doctors, family physicians, can take care of you,” he said.

At participating PHPCs, Singapore citizens aged 18 and below or 65 and above will be eligible for the subsidies.

The subsidies will also be available to those on Public Assistance, Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation schemes, CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders, and Medical Fee Exemption Card holders.

All Singapore citizens will be eligible at polyclinics.

Conditions covered under the haze subsidy scheme include allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, upper respiratory tract infection and their complications.

The public can refer to the MOH website for a list of participating PHPCs. Participating clinics can also be identified by their PHPC decal or haze subsidy scheme poster.

Air quality across Singapore remained in the unhealthy range on Sunday amid continued hazy conditions.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Saturday that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was forecast to be in the unhealthy to high unhealthy range for the next 24 hours.

The 24-hour PSI reached new highs for this year's haze season on Friday, with the central region registering a reading of 192 at 5pm.

Singapore’s 28-agency Haze Task Force has said it is ready to roll out additional measures should the 24-hour PSI exceed 200.

These include distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans and setting up air-conditioned haze shelters at community clubs, as well as selected residents' committee and residents' network centres.

Healthcare institutions, including public hospitals, polyclinics and nursing homes, have activated haze preparedness measures, including using air purifiers, closing windows in wards and corridors, and reducing ambient temperature through portable air coolers, where appropriate.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) will consider closing schools when the air quality forecast for the next day is in the hazardous range with the 24-hour PSI exceeding 300.

Education Minister Desmond Lee said on Saturday that any decision to close schools would be announced by around 8pm the day before through schools and MOE's official channels.

He added that the ministry would continue monitoring the situation each day and assess whether schools should remain open the following day.

Meanwhile, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said Singapore is prepared to help Indonesia in fighting forest fires wherever necessary amid the ongoing haze.

Indonesia is battling its most intense wildfires in 11 years, with super El Nino weather conditions parching the country's forests and fields.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni told Indonesian media last month that wildfires could go on until early November , with the rainy season expected to arrive late, as he urged people to stop using fire to clear land during an extended drought.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

卫生部表示，符合条件的新加坡公民治疗雾霾相关疾病的费用不会超过 10 新元。

新加坡一家综合诊所的患者。（资料照片：Try Sutrisno Foo）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：由于跨境雾霾导致全国空气质量恶化，卫生部将从周一（10月12日）起在公共卫生应急诊所和综合诊所启动雾霾补贴计划。

所有新加坡公民在综合诊所均可享受补贴，而参与的基层医疗中心则仅限特定群体享受补贴，包括儿童和老年人。

公共援助卡持有者将获得全额补贴的护理，建国一代和独立一代的老年人支付的费用不超过 5 新元（3.90 美元），而其他符合条件的新加坡人的费用上限为 10 新元。

新加坡上一次启动雾霾补贴计划是在 2015 年，当时新加坡遭遇了最严重的雾霾事件之一，印度尼西亚森林大火产生的烟雾影响了该地区数周。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 卫生部还将启动基层医疗服务计划（PHPC），该计划旨在协调基层医疗应对措施，并在健康警报和紧急情况下（包括雾霾以及最近的COVID-19疫情）提供补贴医疗服务。卫生部长王乙康周日在武吉坎贝拉举行的一次活动上对记者表示，他观察到急诊科呼吸系统疾病患者人数每周都在增加，综合诊疗所的此类病例也在增加。王乙康补充说，病情更严重的患者应继续前往急诊科就诊，但可以在基层医疗机构处理的呼吸系统疾病应在诊疗所治疗。“我们非常谨慎地保护这些资源，因为人们在生死攸关的情况下需要去那里，”他指的是急诊科。他说：“我们希望确保人们放心……医生、家庭医生能够照顾好你们。”

该部还将启动 PHPC 计划，该计划旨在协调基层医疗应对措施，并在健康警报和紧急情况下（包括雾霾和最近的 COVID-19）提供补贴医疗服务。

卫生部长王乙康周日在武吉坎贝拉出席活动时对记者表示，他观察到急诊科呼吸系统疾病患者人数每周都在增加，综合诊所也接诊了更多此类病例。

王先生补充说，病情较重的人应该继续到急诊科就医，但可以在基层医疗机构处理的呼吸系统问题应该在诊所治疗。

“我们非常谨慎地保护这一资源，因为人们在生死攸关的情况下需要去那里，”他指的是急诊室。

他说：“我们希望确保人们放心……医生、家庭医生能够照顾好你们。”

在参与活动的PHPC，18岁及以下或65岁及以上的新加坡公民将有资格获得补贴。

公共援助计划、建国一代计划和独立一代计划的受益人、CHAS蓝色卡和橙色卡持有人以及医疗费用豁免卡持有人也将获得补贴。

所有新加坡公民均可在综合诊所就诊。

雾霾补贴计划涵盖的疾病包括过敏性鼻炎、哮喘、支气管炎、结膜炎、慢性阻塞性肺病、上呼吸道感染及其并发症。

公众可参考卫生部网站查询参与的基层医疗诊所名单。参与的诊所也可通过其基层医疗诊所标识或雾霾补贴计划海报识别。

周日，新加坡各地空气质量仍处于不健康水平，雾霾天气持续。

国家环境局（NEA）周六表示，预计未来24小时内，24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）将处于不健康至高度不健康范围内。

周五，24 小时 PSI 指数达到今年雾霾季的新高，中部地区下午 5 点的读数为 192。

新加坡由 28 个机构组成的雾霾工作组表示，如果 24 小时 PSI 超过 200，他们准备推出更多措施。

这些措施包括向符合条件的新加坡人分发 N95 口罩，以及在民众俱乐部、部分居民委员会和居民网络中心设立带空调的雾霾避难所。

包括公立医院、综合诊所和疗养院在内的医疗机构已启动雾霾防范措施，包括使用空气净化器、关闭病房和走廊的窗户，并在适当情况下通过便携式空气冷却器降低环境温度。

教育部将在预测第二天空气质量处于危险范围，24 小时 PSI 超过 300 时考虑关闭学校。

教育部长李智陞周六表示，任何停课决定都会在前一天晚上8点左右通过学校和教育部的官方渠道宣布。

他还补充说，教育部将继续每天监测情况，并评估学校第二天是否应该继续开放。

与此同时，新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕表示，在持续的烟霾天气下，新加坡已做好准备，在必要时帮助印尼扑灭森林火灾。

印尼正遭受11年来最严重的森林火灾，超级厄尔尼诺现象导致该国森林和农田干旱少雨。

印尼林业部长拉贾·朱利·安东尼上个月告诉印尼媒体，野火可能会持续到11月初，雨季预计会来得晚，他还敦促人们在长期干旱期间停止用火清理土地。

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。