CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Medical clinic)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Health if his Ministry will consider setting up a unit at the new Changi International Airport to render emergency medical treatment to passengers on arrival, prior to departure or in transit, a service which is not presently available at the Paya Lebar International Airport.

The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): The Ministry has no plans to set up a medical clinic at the Airport to service passengers. The Department of Civil Aviation and the airlines themselves are responsible for air passengers. They are the proper authorities who know how many passengers will require occasional medical treatment and to organize medical facilities either for peak periods only or on a 24-hour basis. As Changi Hospital is located close to the new Changi Airport, the facilities of the hospital will be available. If an air disaster should take place, procedures have been drawn up to activate rescue and ambulance services and for patients to be treated in public hospitals. This was the case in the Spyros disaster in 1978.