Spot Cooling Non-air-conditioned B2 and C Class Wards in Public Hospitals

Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Health (a) whether all patients in non-air-conditioned Class B2 and C wards in public hospitals can request for spot cooling; (b) whether the Ministry has temperature guidelines for such wards; (c) if not, why; and (d) what is the estimated annual cost of providing air-conditioning for all Class B2 and C wards in public hospitals.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Our newer public hospitals are designed for natural ventilation. There are good reasons to do so, from an infection control and cost perspective.

This means ensuring adequate air flow through the naturally ventilated areas by optimising building orientation and ward layout and minimising heat gain in the building. They meet Green Mark Platinum standards which have strict requirements to ensure thermal comfort. Older hospitals have progressively implemented mitigating measures, such as spot-cooling, to lower the ambient temperatures when they are re-modelled or renovated.

In addition, all hospitals take additional measures when the environmental conditions warrant them, such as deploying additional fans, portable air coolers and air purifiers, in the event of a sustained severe haze or heat wave.

We do not have specific information on the cost to provide air-conditioning for all B2 and C Class wards in public hospitals. The Ministry of Health will continue to work with the public hospitals to review and implement measures to enhance the ventilation of existing facilities, balancing affordability, infection control and the users’ thermal comfort.