STERILIZATION (Removal of incentives)

Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Acting Minister for Health whether there were significant reductions in the requests for both male and female sterilization in 1986 and 1987 and whether he will consider removing some of the incentives for sterilization to discourage it.

Dr Koh Lam Son: Sir, in asking Question No. 5, I wish to declare my pecuniary interest.

The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of male and female sterilizations has been declining over the past 10 years from 10,218 in 1976 to 4,768 cases in 1986. It declined by a further 23% in 1987 to 3,652 cases. In 1986, there were 4,504 female cases as compared to 3,524 cases in 1987. Similarly, the number of male cases declined from 264 cases in 1986 to 128 cases in 1987.

In line with the New Population Policy, the incentives for sterilizations were revised in March 1987. Women with less than three children wishing to undergo sterilization are currently being counselled by their doctors in both the public and private sectors.

Dr Koh Lam Son: Sir, can I ask the Minister for the reasons for the decline in the number of cases, and whether there has been a sharper decline in the last one year since the call by the Government to produce more babies? Secondly, whether he would consider removing the incentive of one week's unrecorded leave for civil servants for sterilization.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the reasons for he decline would be, firstly, the continual removal of incentives over the last few years. Secondly, the counselling process that we have started and, thirdly, in line with the New Population Policy, I think women are becoming more aware of the need to not permanently terminate their ability to have children.

With regard to the unrecorded leave for Government servants, I wish to inform the Member that this has been revised, and that with effect from March 1987 only officers without any GCE 'O' level passes who undergo sterilization after they have had their third child would be available for the seven days unrecorded leave.