FULL-TIME NATIONAL SERVICEMEN (Hospital admissions and fatalities)

Mr Goh Chong Chia asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence in the past 10 years, how many full-time National Servicemen per intake have been admitted to hospital and what has been the number of fatalities.

The Minister of State for Defence (Mr David T. E. Lim) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, over the past 10 years, on the average, one death each year is attributable to training. Another 2-3 are non-training related, such as from traffic accidents. MINDEF computerised its medical records in 1997. Based on the computerised records for the past four years, there were, on average, about 50 cases of full-time national servicemen admitted to hospitals each month. These admissions were for a variety of medical conditions. Some examples are sprains and fractures, asthmatic attacks, chicken pox, surgical emergencies such as appendicitis.

Training is an integral part of military proficiency and professionalism. To be effective, training must be realistic and challenging. MINDEF and the SAF take a very serious view of training safety. We will not compromise on safety in meeting training requirements and achieving training standards. However, despite our best efforts, there will be some residual risks in military training.

Mr Goh Chong Chia: Sir, can I ask the Minister of State the procedure or standing order that the officer-in-charge is required to follow when hospitalisation is required or when death has occurred, in particular, the reporting to the next-of-kin or parents of the NSman?

Mr David Lim: Sir, I cannot give him the detailed procedure. If he would like the information, I can provide the information to him. We do take this matter very seriously and very sensitively, in particular, the reporting to the next-of-kin. For example, we will not release information to the media until the next-of-kin has been notified. But if the Member requires further or more detailed information on that, then I will have to look up the procedures.