Measures taken to achieve Aims.
- Built more health facilities such as hospitals, clinics and outpatient dispensaries.
- Introduced Island-Wide inoculation/immunisation programme against diseases such as tuberculosis and smallpox.
- School/Health Service- Medical Officers and nurses were routinely sent to schools to examine pupils.
- Implemented measures to prevent infectious diseases such as malaria that were caused by littering and improper disposal of rubbish.
- Publicity posters to keep Singapore clean
- Organised campaigns such as"Keep Singapore Clean" Campaign.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aims of the government during the 1970s(Improving Health care Services)
Measures taken to achieve aims
- Emphasis on specialization of medical services. The economy had improved considerably and people were wealthier and better-educated, leading to greater demand for better quality medical services.
- Dispensaries replaced by polyclinics which provided better health care services.
- One stop Health centers which offered services such as outpatient medical care.maternal and child health care.
- Located in town centers of housing estates.
- Facilities in government hospitals were well-improved,better quality services introduced.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aims of the government during the 1980s (Taking Personal responsibility by staying healthy)
Measures taken to achieve aims
- SELF-RELIANCE
- Government could no longer offer to give generous health subsidies to the public.
- Avoid over-reliance of the public on state welfare.
- Singaporeans to pay part of their medical expenses and be responsoble for their own health.
- Basic health care and services were kept affordable by giving subsidies through medisave and Medishield.
- Medisave-Compulsory savings scheme to help Singaporeans pay for their family members' and their hospitalization fees,especially after retirement, derived from the worker's salary.
- Medishield-Voluntary scheme designed to help pay medical fees incurred by serious or prolonged illnesses such as cancer and kidney failure. An insurance scheme where members pay a small sum of money through their medisave.
Impact of measures (SELF RELIANCE) during the 1980s
- With medisave, the people share the costs of healthcare with the government.
- This lightens the government's burden in paying for health care services.
- This avoids a situation where people's initiative to work reduces.
- Healthcare becomes a shared responsibility.
- This the government need not depend on raising taxes to pay for healthcare costs.
MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP
- Humanitarian concern for the welfare of people especially in the lower income group.
- Class "C" wards for the needy patients:Patients in these wards pay much less for the basic medical care and services.
- Medifund Scheme provides assistance to those who are too poor to even afford heavily subsidized charges at public hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics.
- Patients have to apply for help at the hospital where they seek treatment.
Impact of measures(MEDICAL CARE FOR LOWER INCOME GROUP)
- This ensures that no Singaporean is denied treatment despite belonging to lower income group.
- Although these schemes and subsidies are direct help from the government,they ensure that the lower income group takes responsibility for their health and not completely rely on the government for their healthcare costs-- as the lower income group still have to shoulder part of the responsibility to pay for healthcare costs.
RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS
- Hospitals would have more freedom to reorganize to meet to the needs of Singaporeans.
- The government would be able to reduce the amount of subsidies to hospitals.
Impact of (RESTRUCTURING OF HOSPITALS)
- By restructuring hospitals, the government has been able to manage rising healthcare costs.
MEANS TESTING
- A way to check whether the patients are able to pay for healthcare.
- For example, it would take into consideration of the patient's background, gross income to decide how much subsidies the patient receives.
- However, it has not yet been implemented in hospitals yet.
Impact of MEANS TESTING
- Resources would be more fairly distributed.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
- Emphasis on health equation to stay fit- government provides
- Information to help people make informed choices on physical activities and diet.
- Screening programmes for early detection such as diabetes and heart diseases.
Impact of HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
- Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain health lifestyle and equip them with adequate knowledge to take personal responsibility for their health.
WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS
- Community also provides healthcare support services to meet the needs of the people.
- This is because it is impossible for the government to run all healthcare services.
- Voluntary welfare organizations and private organizations are given grants to run community hospitals,nursing home and day rehabilitation centers.
- Some of the organizations provide specific healthcare support services,For example. National Kidney Foundation (NKF) provides kidney dialysis.Singapore chung Hwa Medical institution provides Chinese traditional medicine.
Impact of WORKING WITH ORGANISATIONS
- Made it easier for Singaporeans to maintain healthy lifestyle & equip them with adequate knowledge to take responsibility for their health.
- These healthcare services cater to the needs of specific groups of people such as the poor or those who with a particular illness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Websites to visit
Ministry of Health , Singapore http://www.moh.gov.sg
No comments:
Post a Comment