NATIONAL SERVICEMEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health if he will state how many national servicemen have been permanently disabled as a result of injury suffered whilst doing national service and say, in each case by reference to the date the injury was suffered, what provision has been made for the serviceman's welfare.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: 134 National Servicemen incurred various degrees of permanent disablement due to service over the last 5 years, as follows: Year 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Total Number 16 20 40 36 22 134

The degree of permanent disablement as defined in the SAF (Pensions) Regulations is identical to those in the Workmen's Compensation Act. Thus the loss of a little finger is defined as 10% disablement if one phalanx is involved, 15% disablement if 2 phalanges are involved, and 20% disablement if 3 phalanges are involved. Loss of thumb involving both phalanges is 50% disablement. 100% disablement pertains to loss of two limbs, loss of both feet, total paralysis, and other such cases of extreme injury.

Of the 134 cases in 1977-81, only one was 100% permanent disablement. 92.5% of the cases involved less than 30% permanent disablement. Degree of Permanent Disablement 100% 71-90% 51-70% 31-50% 11-30% Up to Total 10% No of 1 1 2 6 33 91 134 Cases % of 0.7% 0.7% 1.5% 4.5% 24.6% 67.9% 100% Total

Of the 134 cases, 57 (42.5%) involved accidents during military training and exercises. The remaining 77 (57.5%) arose from accidents not connected with military training and exercises, as when a cook carelessly caught his finger in a meat grinder.

Under the SAF (Pensions) Regulations, National Servicemen are given the same types of compensation benefits as regular servicemen. The benefits can be categorised into two parts:

a A lump sum payment to compensate for permanent disablement due to service.

b Allowances, as appropriate, to meet the basic needs of disabled servicemen.

The lump sum compensation for permanent disablement is identical to that in the Workmen's Compensation Act.

The SAF (Pensions) Regulations cater in addition for various allowances to be paid to servicemen discharged from the SAF on account of permanent disablement due to service, the range of allowances and amounts depending on the circumstances of each case. The types of allowances provided for are:

a Disability pension.

b Allowances for constant attention, applicable only to cases of 100% disablement.

c Allowance for lowered standard of occupation, applicable only if the disablement renders the serviceman incapable of following the regular occupation before his service, and of following any other occupation of an equivalent standard.

d Treatment Allowance, for approved treatment, provided the sum of this allowance and the disability pension does not exceed the rate of pension payable for total disablement.

e Allowance for wear and tear of clothing resulting from the use of artificial limbs or similar reasons.

f Child education allowance if the totally disabled serviceman has children.

A National Serviceman who is disabled due to service is entitled to free medical and rehabilitative treatment for his disablement at Government clinics and hospitals even after his release from National Service. Disablement equipment and aids such as wheelchair and artificial limbs are also provided free.

In addition, the serviceman's unit and the Central Welfare Fund play their part in the welfare of disabled servicemen as follows:

a Regular hospital or house visits.

b Hardship grants and ex-gratia payments, depending on the needs of each case.

c Re-assignment of jobs and vocations as appropriate.

Compensation terms have been improved over the years, the more important milestones being:

a Replacement of the Federation Army Regulations, 1961 by the SAF Pensions Scheme Regulations, 1971.

b Inclusion of lump sum compensation along the lines of the Workmen's Compensation Act with effect from 1st October, 1975.

c Providing lump sum compensation for disabled servicemen whose degree of disablement is not serious enough to warrant discharge. Previous to October 1977, such compensation was given only to servicemen who were discharged.

d Incorporation with effect from 2nd January, 1981 of the new ceilings of lump sum compensation introduced by the Workmen's Compensation Act then.

The disablement benefits are under review to keep them in tack with changing socio-economic conditions in Singapore.

The solitary case of 100% disablement in the period 1977-81 involved a National Serviceman private who was paralysed waist-downwards when the 3-tonner he was travelling in overturned on 30th September, 1981. He was given medical leave with full pay until his release from National Service on 16th June, 1982, after he was confirmed as 100% permanently disabled. After his discharge from hospital, a wheelchair with foam seat and a toilet commode were purchased for him. Subsequently, a ripple mattress was supplied him on the recommendation of the Rehabilitation Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

In February 1982, the SAF Central Welfare Fund gave $10,000 as temporary financial relief to the family. Following his discharge from National Service on 16th June, 1982, the following benefits were given:

a A lump sum disability compensation of $20,000.

b A lump sum of $15,000 for constant attention.

c A monthly allowance totalling $300 as disability pension and allowance for lowered standard of occupation.