Impact of Healthpoint Rewards and Other Incentives for Blood Donation on Donor Behaviour

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in view of the introduction of Healthpoints rewards for blood donors from the second half of 2026, whether the Ministry has assessed the potential impact of such incentives on donor behaviour, including both donor retention and motivations for donation.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Healthpoints for blood donation is a small gesture of appreciation, just as Healthpoints is a small recognition for adoption of healthy habits. It is consistent with the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, which permits small tokens of appreciation, refreshments and reimbursement of reasonable travel costs. It is not conceivable that people treat Healthpoints as a primary motivation for donating blood.