FOREIGN WORKERS

FOREIGN WORKERS

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(Health screening parameters): **

24.

Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the current health screening parameters for foreign workers coming to work in Singapore; and (b) whether there is a need for review to make them more stringent in view of the many reports of imported diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, Chikungunya and other infectious diseases.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Foreigners coming to work in Singapore are required to have a medical examination to assess their health and fitness status. As part of this medical examination, they are screened for four infectious diseases, namely, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis.

Those who are found to have malaria and syphilis will be given the appropriate treatment. However, those who have HIV infection or active TB are generally not allowed to work in Singapore.

We continually review the screening parameters and put in additional measures as necessary.

For example, last year, we included an additional requirement for foreign domestic workers with scarring on their chest X-ray to undergo further evaluation for active TB disease. Scarring indicates past infection with TB, and those with scarring are at a higher risk of developing active TB disease. We have put in this additional precaution for foreign domestic workers as they work in families which may have young children or elderly people, who are more vulnerable.

Screening for malaria is currently carried out using the peripheral blood film test. This test is most useful when the patient has fever, and is less effective for screening purposes in asymptomatic individuals. We are currently reviewing this screening programme as well as increasing awareness and enhancing early detection of cases.

The disease with the highest number of imported cases last year was Chikungunya. However, the majority of the cases were imported by Singapore residents. Foreign workers accounted for only 15% of the imported cases.

Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. As with malaria, the key to controlling Chikungunya is targeted control of the mosquito vector.