MINIMUM AGE FOR CONCESSIONS AT GOVERNMENT OUTPATIENT DISPENSARIES

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for Health what is the rationale of fixing 65 years as the minimum age for senior citizens to qualify for concessions at government outpatient dispensaries and if he will consider lowering the age to 60 years.

The Minister for Health (Mr Howe Yoon Chong): Mr Speaker, Sir, because compulsory retirement has remained the same at 55 or 60 years and because CPF savings can be withdrawn at 55 years, the local concept of old age or definition of "senior citizen" has not changed ever since the 1950's when the average life expectancy was around 60 years. Yet all this while there have been dramatic advances in medical science and technology. There have been vast improvements in economic and social conditions. Few of us ever realize that by defining a person to be "old", we often make that person "old" when, in fact, he or she is still young. The main reason why the Ministry of Health uses 65 years and over as the qualifying age for concessions is therefore to prevent people who are not yet "old" from being made to feel old by our society.

What are the true facts? Today, Singaporeans have an average life expectancy of 70 years for males and 73 for females. Actuarial calculations show that a Singaporean who is today 60 years old can, on the average, expect to live another 15 to 19 years. There is medical and scientific evidence to confirm that people who have maintained good physical and mental health should not be "old" in their 60's or even in their early 70's, but only in the late 70's and beyond. Therefore, the term "old", "elderly", or "senior citizen" should correctly apply only to people who are in their late 70's.

We must, however, accept that among our population in Singapore there are many people who have had a very difficult life and who might not have taken as good care of themselves as they should. The Ministry of Health, in deciding to grant concessions, has adopted 65 years as the qualifying age for a person to be termed "old" or "elderly" also to keep in line with international practice. The United Nations' agencies and most industrialized countries accept 65 and above as the basis for the term "old" or "elderly".

Hence, the answer to the hon. Member's query whether the Ministry will consider lowering the age to 60 years for concessions at Government outpatient clinics and dispensaries is therefore "No". The likelihood is that when we further improve our health care and living conditions and when life expectancy goes up, the Ministry may think of revising the qualifying age upwards and hopefully raise it to 70 or 75 years.

Mr Rohan bin Kamis (Telok Blangah): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister consider lowering the age to 60 years as the qualifying age for concession at Government outpatient dispensaries? This would be considered not as a sign of the person being old or elderly but more as a sign of appreciation of the person's contribution to the country.

Mr Howe Yoon Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the appreciation would be that we hope he will keep good health. Therefore, giving him any indication that can lead to self-pity is not appreciation.