MEDISAVE (Use for cancer screening)

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Health if he will consider allowing the use of Medisave for medical check-ups that screen for cancer.

The Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Sir, the Medisave Scheme is primarily to meet the hospitalisation expenses of account holders, especially in their old age, and those of their immediate family. It has also been extended to cover certain costly outpatient treatments, such as radiotherapy and kidney dialysis.

Currently, there are only a few effective cancer screening tests recommeded for the general public. Screening tests which are effective such as screening of women for breast and cervical cancers are inexpensive and generally affordable. Therefore, the use of Medisave for cancer screening is not necessary.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Does the Minister agree that diseases like cancer cannot be detected at an early stage unless a proper medical screening is conducted, and by allowing CPF to be used for this purpose it will encourage Singaporeans to go for medical screening?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, in fact, it is not recommended that Singaporeans go for regular screening for cancer and that is because the screening test should be carried out only when it is indicated rather than on a population-wide basis.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Does the Minister agree that, in view of cancer being the second highest killer disease in Singapore, by allowing CPF to be used for screening for cancer, there is a great chance that cancer could be detected at an early stage and thus save some of the patients' lives and it will also cut down medical costs?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, as I indicated just now, screening for cancer should only be done when there are indications. For example, pap smear. Pap smear is something which we recommend to all women. That is one of the very few screening tests that we recommend routinely and it costs only $15. So women should have no problem going for pap smear tests. For the other cancers, it should be done on an indicative basis. For example, people with nasopharyngeal cancer, ie, cancer of the nose. We would not recommed that all Singaporeans go for that test regularly because it is not cost-effective. Very few Singaporeans do have cancer of the nose. But for those whose immediate families have cancer of the nose, then we recommend that they go for a blood test costing only $25. It is more cost-effective for those patients who have definite indications to do cancer screening rather than for the whole population.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Do patients who are recommended by a doctor for such a test be allowed to use CPF right now?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The answer is "no" because such tests are still fairly inexpensive and very affordable.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Does the Minister agree that encouraging medical check-up, especially rcommended by doctors for screening for cancer, if they are suspected of cancer, is also part of preventive medicine? Do not forget the Minister allows CPF to be used for hepatitis-B immunisation which also costs about $60. It is also cheap, but it is allowed. So I do not understand. I consider this as preventive. But why is it that it is not allowed to be used for screening for cancer?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, Medisave is allowed to be used for hepatitis-B immunisation, and this is because hepatitis-B is fairly widespread in Singapore. And the only way to cut off the transmission to future generations is to ensure that every new born child is immunised against hepatitis-B. But we do not allow Medisave to be used for routine screening for hepatitis-B.