MINISTRY OF HEALTH

The Ministry will continue to expand and improve the quality of the medical services within the limits of our financial capacity and manpower strength. Like other services, the health service is affected by mounting inflation. Health expenditure increased nearly threefold in 5 years, from $53m in 1970 to $154m in 1975 or $25.55 per capita in 1970 to $68.52 in 1975 (or $45.74 at 1970 prices - a 79% rise in 5 years), The primary concern will be to keep health expenditure at as low a level as possible through greater emphasis on preventive medicine, and selective institutional care for the acutely ill. The Ministry reluctantly has to accept the necessity that one has to pay for part of the treatment to ensure that costly medical treatment is not unduly abused.

Hospital Development

The new Singapore General Hospital will cost $200m. It is due for completion in 1980 and will have the most modern comprehensive of hospital facilities. There will also be a new hospital within the University campus at Kent Ridge costing $137m. When completed by 1985, it will have 750 beds.

Development of Dental Health Services

New school dental clinics and outpatient dental clinics are planned for the next 5 years. The new $7.5m Institute of Dental Health at Hyderabad Road will be completed in mid 1977. There will be better training facilities for dental therapists, nurses and technicians. Although a large volume of curative work is being handled, the main emphasis is on preventive dentistry and dental health education.

Preventive Medicine

Nearly two-thirds of total operation costs for the whole medical service are incurred in running the hospitals. This is compounded by the rising demand for in-patient treatment. There has been a 20% increase in hospital admissions, from 135, 952 in 1970 to 164, 205 in 1975. With smaller families and better education, there is the necessity for better medical services. To maintain and improve standards, expensive hospital care is confined to those who need it.

On a per capita basis, the outpatient services have been most cost-effective - $4 per outpatient attendance compared to an average of $48 per bed per day for a general hospital. The logical solution is that greater attention will have to be paid on primary health care, preventive medicine and health education.

The Outpatient, Maternal and Child Health, and School Health Services were integrated in mid 1976 to streamline primary health care services. New-type poly-clinics combining curative and preventive medical/dental treatment are being planned in such major Housing and Development Board Towns as Ang Mo Kio. Bedok, Telok Blangah. Woodlands and Geylang East.

Extensive immunisation programmes against infectious diseases will continue More stress will be given to educate the public on how to stay healthy through regular national health campaigns. These campaigns will explain the factors which cause ill health, and how mental and occupational health can be protected by improving the working and living environment.

The plight of the geriatric population (those over 60 years) who are more vulnerable to illness because of the degenerative process will not be overlooked. Though they constitute 6.6% of the population (expected to rise to 9% in 25 years), they comprise 15.5% of all hospital admissions and 27.4% of long-staying patients The Home Nursing Foundation, a joint project by the Government and community, was recently established to bring nursing care to the disabled old, chronic sick and mentally ill patients in their homes Such home nursing will enable the hospitals to be put to optimum use for treating the acutely ill.

Licensing of Medicinal Products

A new Medicines Act 1975 has been passed. It will soon regulate the manufacture and sale of medicinal products to ensure their safety, quality and efficacy.

TOH CHIN CHYE Minister for Health