SCREENING FOR BREAST CANCER (Use of Medisave to pay for

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to educate women on the importance of regular screening for breast cancer; and whether he will consider allowing women to use their Medisave to pay for mammograms.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Aline K. Wong) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry recognises that breast cancer has been increasing steadily and is now the commonest cancer among women in Singapore. Our polyclinics have run Well Women Clinics for over 10 years which include screening for breast cancer and health education on the disease. We are working hand in hand with relevant organisations like the Singapore Cancer Society, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Cancer Centre and hospitals, on further expanding our programmes to control breast cancer. These programmes include health education, promotion of regular screening for the early detection of breast cancer and updated treatment modalities aimed at improving the survival and well-being of breast cancer patients.

Over the last 10 years, my Ministry has held two large National Cancer Education Programmes, in addition to the on-going public education to reach out to the target population. During the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, jointly launched in October last year by my Ministry, the Singapore Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Foundation, several innovative and interesting programmes were used to highlight the importance of breast cancer and of regular screening. My Ministry plans to organise this Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an annual event.

Last year, MOH also set up a Breast Cancer Workgroup involving leading authorities in breast cancer control from both the public and private sectors. This is part of the MOH Committee on Women's Health, which is chaired by myself. This Workgroup is tasked to recommend measures to further improve the control of breast cancer in Singapore and to improve acceptance of programmes for early detection and improved cure of breast cancer, by women in Singapore.

Medisave is designed to help patients pay for acute hospitalisation expenses. Exceptions have been made for certain expensive outpatient treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer, and renal dialysis.

To ensure that Medisave is not prematurely depleted, it is important that we extend Medisave coverage only to treatments that are proven, cost-effective and are expensive in terms of the patient's out-of-pocket payments.

My Ministry is looking into the possibility of extending Medisave coverage to mammograms. In considering this, my Ministry will bear in mind that charges for mammogram range between $100 and $170 and that screening by mammography is an important measure for the early detection of breast cancer, which in turn contributes to improved survival and well being of the patient.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, I understand that the World Health Organisation recommends that mothers should breast feed their babies at least for the first four months from birth. Does the Singapore Government make the same recommendation?

Dr Aline Wong: Even though this question is not related to the Question asked, I would like to assure the Member that my Ministry has been promoting breast feeding among mothers who deliver in our restructured hospitals and Government hospitals.