PRESENT INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Health, from 1994 to 1998, (a) how many persons above 55 years old without savings in the Central Provident Fund were admitted to hospitals; (b) how many in this age category with Medisave accounts were unable to meet their medical expenses; and (c) how the hospitals handled these cases.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: In 1997, our public hospitals saw 80,000 hospital admissions involving Singaporeans and PRs aged 55 and above. The hospitals do not track whether patients have savings in the Central Provident Fund. About 38% of them used their own Medisave savings to pay at least part of the hospital bill. Another 50% of patients used the Medisave of their immediate family members. Some patients were covered by employer medical benefits and therefore need not draw on Medisave.

Figures on Medifund assistance allow us to estimate the number of patients who, despite Government subsidies, Medisave and MediShield, remain unable to meet their medical expenses. Medifund is the safety net of last resort for needy and indigent Singaporeans. Applications are considered by Hospital Medifund Committees, and approval rates have always been higher than 97%. In Financial Year 1997, Medifund assisted 5,600 cases out of the 61,000 admissions of patients older than 55 into B2 and C class wards. They received $5.4 million of financial help.

Medifund is not the only avenue open to those who need financial assistance. Inpatients can also apply for Medisave overdraft. Our public hospitals are also prepared to help patients with genuine financial difficulties by offering an instalment plan to pay their bills. Singaporeans can rest assured that they will not be denied essential healthcare because of the inability to pay.

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the present influenza epidemic is due to Sydney H5N2 as in Hong Kong and (b) whether his Ministry has vaccines available against the virus.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The influenza A/Sydney (H3N2) virus has been isolated in Singapore since the end of 1997. It is the predominant strain circulating during the current season from November 1998 to January/February 1999 and is associated with the present influenza outbreak in Singapore. This virus strain is similar to the strain of influenza virus responsible for the influenza outbreak in Hong Kong.

In Singapore, influenza A (H3N2 and H1N1 sub-types) and Influenza B viruses are detected throughout the year.

Influenza is an acute viral disease of the respiratory tract. The disease is self-limiting and patients usually recover within a week. As influenza may occur throughout the year in tropical countries, influenza vaccination is generally not introduced in any tropical country as a routine basis for prevention. In temperate countries when epidemics occur during cold winter seasons, the elderly and young children with chronic medical conditions like heart and lung disease, who are at high risk of having serious complications are advised to have influenza vaccination as a preventive measure.

The Ministry of Health has taken the necessary action to ensure that influenza vaccine is available to those who wish to be vaccinated. Influenza vaccination is available at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Changi General Hospital, and many private clinics.