COMMON CAUSES OF DEATHS IN SINGAPORE (Particulars)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for Health (a) what were the ten most common causes of deaths, the death rates and the number of deaths due to each of these causes in Singapore in 1977; and (b) what preventive programmes have been implemented in an attempt to lower the death rates in the three leading causes of deaths in Singapore.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): Mr Speaker, Sir, I will give the total number of deaths to be followed by the rate per 100,000 population as is the customary practice. Rate per 100,000 Cause of Death Number population 1. Malignant Neoplasm (including neoplasms of lymphatic and haemopoitic tissue) (Cancer) 2,265 98.1 2. Ischaemic Heart Disease (Cardiac infarct) 1,592 69.0 3. Cerebrovascular Disease (Strokes) 1,326 67.4 4. Pneumonia 1,174 50.9 5. Accidents and Violence (all forms) 457 19.8 6. Other forms of Heart Disease 387 16.8 7. Diabetes Mellitus 377 16.3 8. Tuberculosis of Respiratory System 289 12.5 9. Hypertensive Disease 257 11.1 10. Nephritis and Nephrosis (Kidney diseases) 247 10.7 Deaths - all causes 11,952 5.2

Members are aware that my Ministry is placing great emphasis on health education. We had a very successful year in 1976 when we conducted a mass campaign against six diseases. We are planning to conduct another campaign next year against those diseases which are associated with lifestyles and with environment. It is our intention to make the population conscious of the nature of some of these diseases, but I cannot promise that my Ministry will guarantee immortality to everybody. All that we hope is that this health campaign will be able to educate the laymen and therefore they will be in a better position to avoid some of these diseases and thereby prolong their lifespan.

Mr Ivan Baptist (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. Could the Hon. Minister tell us some definite programmes to prevent the three leading causes of deaths in Singapore? So far, he has been rather hazy.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, I do not know whether the Member for Potong Pasir is a vegetarian.

An hon. Member: He is not!

Dr Toh Chin Chye: If he is a vegetarian, then probably he will not have to worry about cholesterol and ischaemic heart disease. As far as cancer is concerned, there are many factors involved in producing cancer, but nobody really knows the reason why cancer is induced. There is no cure for cancer. All that we can do is to take preventive measures. For example, there is a correlation between smoking and lung cancer. So obviously if Members of the House do not wish to catch cancer, they should not smoke. The other alternative is to urge the Minister for Finance to raise the tax on cigarettes. This is one of the measures that we hope to take, either fiscal or legislative measures which will bring about a social change in the style of living of individuals and the society, and thereby cut down the morbidity rates. But sad to say, some time or other, all of us must make an exit. We either make a quick exit or a slow one. So I am afraid I cannot promise magic pills or magic measures that will prevent people from catching cancer, heart attacks or strokes.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Mr Speaker, Sir, in other words, the Minister does not have any definite programmes.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: It is non sequitur. I have just explained my programme. He does not understand English!