QUESTIONS ON THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Dr Lily Neo: May I ask the Minister for Health whether the outbreak in SGH in the first week of April could have been averted? Could we not have prevented the in-patient in SGH spreading SARS to so many patients, causing a huge chain reaction, especially knowing that the patient had just been discharged from Tan Tock Seng Hospital and that SARS had been around for about two weeks at that time? Why were more stringent or precautionary measures not taken by SGH? May I ask the Minister for Health how widespread is SARS infection now? Is he having difficulty in ringfencing SARS presently? May I ask how are we coping in contact tracing of probable SARS? Why was the first case of SARS from Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre not quarantined when, in fact, his brother died from SARS?

May I ask the Minister for Health whether it is right and prudent that we should follow WHO's guidelines on SARS? The reason I am asking this is because the Ministry of Health has been quoting that it is following WHO's guidelines. Sir, are we not fighting a new entity with no precedent incident? Is Singapore not one of the countries quite affected with about 189 cases today? Should we not set our own guidelines for better containment? Should we not err on the side of caution?

May I also ask the Minister for Health whether his Ministry would urgently put up an epidemiological study group to go through quickly the SARS case notes we have so far, in order to map out the disease pattern so that we can control SARS better? May I also ask him whether our healthcare workers in our public hospitals are adequately protected? Are doctors and nurses over-stretched, especially in wards with quarantined personnel? Is the past shortage of junior doctors now becoming critical? Is the welfare of our medical staff well taken care of? Are our public hospitals coping with the delivery of services to our patients? Are our public hospitals in crisis? May I also ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether our Government is prioritising our healthcare urgently and sufficiently, and also through more funding? Are the public hospitals given more funds to fight SARS? And would the Deputy Prime Minister consider waiving hospital charges for patients seeking treatment for SARS?

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Marine Parade): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. The first is on the issue of public education and awareness. For unwitting breaches of the Home Quarantine Orders, how would the Government help address the issue of ignorance, especially of the older citizens who may not understand the implications of their actions or simply the substance of the matter, or of illiterate persons who can converse only in dialects?

The second question relates to the economic impact on groups of people who rely on licences which are linked to the Medisave contributions. Will the renewal of licences for conducting business, for example, the vocational driving licences for taxi drivers, be linked to the Medisave contribution? And where there could be cashflow crunches in view of the SARS effect, would the Government be flexible enough to allow the renewal without insisting on a complete fulfilment of this request but by accommodating payments by instalments or even reductions in contribution?

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (East Coast): Mr Speaker, Sir, my first question is directed to the Minister for Health. I would like to ask whether it is possible for the Home Quarantine Order, when it is issued to somebody, to be issued in the different languages. Because I understand that, right now, it is only done in the English language and I believe that many of the people who receive the HQOs are the older people who may not understand English. Looking at the HQO, I also notice that, when a HQO is issued, it is stipulated that school-going children or young siblings would not be allowed to leave the home during the period of quarantine. But, on the other hand, the spouse or any other adults in the home would be allowed to leave. Could he explain to us the difference in the treatment of the younger ones at home and the adults?

There is also a condition which says that when a workman comes to the house to carry out work within the premises, they should be alerted that the person has been served with a HQO so that the workman can take the necessary precautions. I am just wondering whether, during a time like this, when someone has been served with a HQO, they should in fact allow anyone into the home or not.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have got a few questions as well. On this fight against SARS, or the SARS war, may I ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much longer is needed to solve this problem over time. He says it is a long haul. But how long will this long haul be? All these measures that we are doing, in terms of temperature taking, checking at airports, and so on, will it be something which will stay for a few more years or it might be overcome in a few months? The reason I ask is because I think it is good to give Singaporeans a good sense of how these things are going to affect their lives in the future.

Secondly, on all the measures being taken, I must first say that I do support all these measures because they are very important. But is there also a danger that we are over-reacting? It seems that Singapore takes this matter very seriously. In contrast with many other countries, some countries are quite blase about the matter and do not really seem to be taking it that seriously as compared to Singapore. Therefore, even in contrast to the number of SARS incidents in Singapore per population, we seem to have a very high incident rate in Singapore. Is there a particular reason for this?

Finally, a question on temperature taking for fever. I think I have heard a lot being said about the checking of persons through the thermometer for fever. Is it a very safe measure? How sure are we that having no fever will mean that the person is not contagious, he will not carry the virus and therefore will not spread to other people?

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: I would also like to ask the Government whether, in implementing the various measures, we have taken human psychology into consideration. To me, Sir, it seems that all the measures depend on two factors: one, public spiritedness of the citizens, and second, by penalty, in other words, punishment. But, Sir, is it not true that there are individuals who, through self-denial, will go to all extent to say that they do not have SARS, and to be sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital seems to them to be a sentence or label that they will try to avoid at all costs? Perhaps, the Government should also have considered human psychology in this respect by going through better publicity to show the recovery rates of patients from Tan Tock Seng Hospital so that going to Tan Tock Seng Hospital is not considered a death penalty or sentence. That, I believe, is pretty important as well.

May I beg your indulgence here also to express my personal tribute to the healthcare workers for their sacrifice in this battle against SARS.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): Sir, I have three questions for the Health Minister. Two taxi drivers so far have been infected with SARS by their passengers. Can I ask the Minister that, since the ambulance service was introduced to transport suspect SARS patients to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, have members of the public been ready to come forward to call for this service and to use it? And how prompt is the ambulance coming to pick up the suspect SARS patients? From reading the press reports, it would seem that they take several hours to come and that is why the family of eight went to the coffeeshop to have some drinks and then went to a Chinese herbal medicine store, causing the risk of infection to the community. And, third, I share Dr Wang's concern that the public has this fear of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Can I ask the Minister to do more to allay the concerns on the ground about going to Tan Tock Seng Hospital?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan (Hong Kah): I would like to join Dr Wang in asking about the treatment of patients at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I think there are some people in Singapore who fear being sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital now because they think it is like a death sentence. So it will be good if we can inform the public about how patients are treated there. If they are not infected, they will remain uninfected if they go to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and get out well.

Another question I would like to ask the Minister for Health is if he could also enlighten us on the measures that have been put in place to help minimise the inconvenience of those who have been served with Home Quarantine Orders. I think so far the plight and also the sacrifice of many healthcare workers have been highlighted but not much has been reported or conveyed on the measures that have been put in place to help those who are served with Home Quarantine Orders.

Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to not only thank the healthcare workers but also all those who have been put in the frontline to help fight this battle against SARS, including the Minister, as well as all the Government officials and those who have actually contributed to the Courage Fund.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, DPM Lee has said that the Government is going flat out to develop a diagnostic test kit. Sir, I am asking whether the Government is willing to give a prize or reward to the first person that develops this kit, in addition to his normal salary. I think this is an incentive needed because I think time is of the essence as far as SARS is concerned.

Sir, mention also has been made of the super-infector. Now that her name has been revealed by MOH and also published in the papers, with such adverse publicity, I am certain that her life must be affected badly. I wonder whether MOH can do something to rehabilitate her socially, like counselling her, and also, if possible, seek employment for her, if she has not already got a job.

Sir, as regards the compensation for persons who are issued with a Home Quarantine Order, if they are officially issued with this order, they are entitled to compensation. What about those who, on their own, voluntarily quarantine themselves, if they feel that they have been infected by the disease?

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, two questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. For the businesses that are quarantined, does the ex-gratia payment include the other fixed costs like rentals and disinfecting expenses, other than the labour costs? On the second question: why limit the Home Quarantine Order allowance scheme to only 50% of the person's income? Is this not a case of war against a virus when the HQO is similar to the issue of the SAF-100 calling people out for national duty and that they should be fully compensated, instead of 50% of their salary, or $70 for self-employed individuals? Can we follow the claims practice similar to the SAF when people are called up for National Service to do make-up pay claim, so that they get the full compensation rather than 50% of it?

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Holland-Bukit Panjang): I have three questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. First, can DPM provide an update on the vegetable supply situation and the steps taken to bring the supply back to normal? Second, what are the steps taken to safeguard the safety of workers and buyers in other food supply centres? And, third, may I ask DPM to request Power Supply to suspend the disconnection of power and water supply during this difficult time?

Mr Iswaran: Mr Speaker, may I ask the DPM two questions? The first pertains to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre. The livelihood of the wholesalers and the workers there has been quite badly hit by the shutdown. I would like to know whether, in addition to the Home Quarantine Order allowance and some of the other measures, there is specific assistance available for these wholesalers and their workers.

The second question pertains to the broader economic impact. The DPM has announced the revised growth estimates and there has been a package of measures that has been announced. This is obviously premised on certain assumptions of the intensity and duration of the SARS virus impact on the economy. May I ask, especially in the light of some of the announcements from Hong Kong on their measures which appear to be of far greater assistance, when or at what point would the Government deem it appropriate to revisit the issue of further Government assistance for the economy?

Dr Warren Lee (Sembawang): Sir, may I ask DPM whether consideration may be given towards providing some form of residential facility for those who are unable to take home quarantine perhaps because they are renting a room, or for those who repeatedly seem to have difficulty keeping their Home Quarantine Orders?

Mr Chay Wai Chuen (Tanjong Pagar): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister a question on the Home Quarantine Order. Presently, under the Home Quarantine Order, a person who is quarantined, the children are not allowed to go out of the home, but the spousal members are allowed to. In a situation when the Home Quarantine Orders are very limited or small in number, I think that makes sense, because we have to balance the economy and activity going on. But when the number of Home Quarantine Orders is 2,000-plus, as it is now, and we have adult members of the family going about their work, is there not quite a high possibility that there may be some cases which might lead to infection or to situations which may not be truly watertight, as mentioned by the Deputy Prime Minister just now?

Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, I have a few questions. The first one relates to the impact that our actions have had on investors and on the business people who intend to travel to Singapore to meet up with Singapore businessmen. While we have been very effective in all the measures - and I think we have done all the right things - the signal that this is sending to the international community is that we have a very, very serious problem, compared to many others who may not be doing as much as us. So, we really need to do a PR exercise to rebuild the confidence once again for people to have confidence to do business in Singapore.

My second question, Sir, is one concerning people from SARS-affected areas. Many residents have brought up the issue as to why we have not been so decisive in restricting the entry of people from countries that are severely affected, particularly from the various regions in China where we do not even know the severity of the problem.

The third question, specifically for the Minister for Health, is: in case children are affected, the question that has been raised to some of us is whether parents will be allowed to visit their children, particularly the very small ones. I think this is one of the reasons why they fear going to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines): Sir, may I ask the Minister for Health two questions? The first is whether or not the Government has in place a policy of freeing up information on SARS patients to the community for them to take the necessary preventive measures while being mindful that information of such nature is obviously very sensitive.

The second question essentially relates to whether or not the Government has a policy of naming persistent defaulters of Home Quarantine Orders publicly, in order for the public to take necessary cognisance of such defaulters.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun (Hong Kah): Sir, I have a few questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. Firstly, DPM Lee mentioned that the HDB would pass on the property tax rebates to tenants. May I ask him whether he will ask GLCs, such as CapitaLand, to pass on the property tax rebates to retail and restaurant tenants?

Secondly, wage cost is also an important component of business cost. I understand that the Government has given foreign worker levy rebates to hotels. So, will the Government consider giving such rebates also to retail or restaurant businesses?

Thirdly, will the Government also ask Singapore Power to consider giving rebates to those businesses which are affected by SARS?

Dr Tan Boon Wan (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Speaker, Sir, during this SARS period, I think the demand for masks, thermometers and thermo probe covers has increased. I wonder whether there is a problem with availability. Is there also a problem with price profiteering by suppliers or retailers, and what action has been taken to make sure that supplies will be available and the prices are within control?

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, I have three questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. DPM said in his Ministerial Statement just now that SARS would probably last for two years or so. So, what is his assessment of the economic prospects for Singapore under the prolonged SARS situation?

Secondly, does he see the need to increase the quantum of financial assistance, such as rebates for utility bills, S&C charges, rentals, etc, and also to provide additional financial assistance schemes?

Thirdly, would the Government defer further the intention to increase the GST rate next year, in view of the current situation?

Mr Heng Chee How (Jalan Besar): Sir, as part of the effort to make it easier for Singaporeans to respond and help in this national effort, can I request the Government to consider using easier telephone numbers, eg, for the Ministry of Health's and the special ambulance's helpline numbers?

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, first, I would like to thank the Government for extending assistance to those who are on Home Quarantine Orders. I would, however, like to ask the Government to also consider extending some assistance to those who are not on Home Quarantine Orders but who have lost their jobs, who will lose their jobs, or who will suffer drastic pay cuts as a result of SARS. They also need some assistance.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (Sembawang): Sir, I would like to ask what is the status of the people who have gone to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre during the identified period coming forward to be screened? How many of them have come forward? And for those who have come forward and are found not to have any symptoms of fever, have they been quarantined or have they been asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves? In that sense, will they also be given compensation during their voluntary quarantine period?

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, on this official quarantine period, ie, 10 or 14 days, can the Minister for Health explain? I also want to reiterate the fears on the ground about Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Can the Minister explain the procedure when a person seeks help at Tan Tock Seng Hospital? I went to the market today. There is even talk that they would be locked up when they seek help there! What are the preventive actions being taken by Government agencies to ensure that there is service or business continuity if any of the staff is found to be affected?

Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang): Sir, I would like to ask more about the Home Quarantine Orders, because there seems to be some public misperceptions about what steps are taken before Home Quarantine Orders are issued. There may be some hesitancy therefore as to why they want to keep to the Home Quarantine Orders. Can the Minister explain how Home Quarantine Orders are issued and what sort of actions are required of those who are quarantined? I also understand that in all parts of Singapore you can be quarantined at home. Apparently, in Hong Kong, there were some problems about people who thought that they had SARS and then took taxis or buses on the way to the doctors, nurses and hospitals, that they are in fact spreading the infection. What steps are being taken, for example, to control this type of problem?

Miss Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Health how many super-spreaders have been identified in Singapore, and how this figure compares with those of other nationalities in other countries. Have there been any studies on the profile of these super-spreaders and, if so, are there any commonalities that have been found?

My second question is directed to DPM and Minister for Finance. Will there be a possibility of including in the package itself or introducing a package to help individuals who are affected by SARS, eg, in their loss of income, perhaps in the form of a one-off special personal tax relief?

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed (Aljunied): Sir, my question is on quarantine. But, before that, I would like to share this sentiment about a job well done by our medical providers, and we hope that they will continue with the courage and serve us well.

On the question about quarantine, the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre incident has shown us the risk of mass quarantine. I gather that there are some essential services which are now trying out alternative groups, where some groups are encouraged to break up into two distinct groups, so that they do not meet each other in case one should contact SARS. To what extent is this necessary and how far do we go in determining the level of the need to break up into two groups? For example, the CDC is thinking of doing that. I was told mass media groups are also looking at dividing themselves into two groups and working differently. What about our Cabinet? I see that all the Ministers are here. What are the risks of one contracting SARS and us losing or quarantining all the Cabinet members?

Mr Gan Kim Yong (Holland-Bukit Panjang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Health what is the state of the morale of the medical staff at the hospitals. Is any emotional or counselling support given to them? Do we have sufficient medical resources at our hospitals? Could we consider mobilising military and medical resources to supplement, if necessary?

My second question is with regard to Home Quarantine Orders. I share Prof. Chin's concern that there is some misconception. The public is concerned what home quarantine involves and, therefore, they are afraid to come forward. Hence, if the Minister could consider giving more explanations on what it involves and what assistance is available, whether financial or other forms of support that can help them cope with home quarantine, that would help dispel the misconception and encourage more people to come forward.

Mr Speaker: Ms Braema Mathiaparanam. I will allow one more question after this.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam: I have some questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. Talking about screening, will people crossing at ferry points be included? What is the rationale for giving the money to employers to give out to employees who are on home quarantine? Lastly, we are here for the long haul. What are the plans to help take off some of the load, especially of the frontline workers in the hospitals who are doubling up to help out, eg, in SARS-screening duties, etc, and whether we can work with the Ministry of Manpower to retrain retrenched workers, etc, to do them?

Mr Ahmad Khalis Bin Abdul Ghani (Hong Kah): Sir, I have a few questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. We have noted from the Deputy Prime Minister's speech and from reports elsewhere that SARS has severely affected the travel and tourism industries, among others. My question is whether the Government is reviewing the importance that we have been attaching to the travel and tourism industries. What is the Government's assessment of the impact of SARS on the travel and tourism industries in the medium and long term?

Mr Speaker: Mr Steve Chia, you have had your chance already. Any other hon. Members? You have had your chance too, Mr Tan. If I allow you, I will have to allow Mr Steve Chia.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Mr Speaker, are we allowed to ask questions again, because I believe this is a Ministerial Statement, and we have always had the opportunity to ask questions many times?

Mr Speaker: All right. I will leave it open then! Mr Steve Chia.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Thank you, Mr Tan. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Okay, ask your question.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Sir, I have an additional question for the Deputy Prime Minister. Hong Kong just unveiled a $2.7 billion lifeline yesterday to fight SARS and create employment. Taiwan is in the midst of passing a big $2.5 billion expenditure Bill aimed at creating jobs, boosting their economic growth and lowering their unemployment figures. In Singapore, is the Government stopping at this $230 million package that it introduced last week, or is there more being planned in the pipeline that is going to be disclosed soon?

Dr Lily Neo: Thank you, Mr Tan Soo Khoon, for doing it for all of us.

Mr Speaker: Dr Neo, what is your question?

Dr Lily Neo: I would like to ask the Minister for Health whether he would consider public measures for the better containment and tracing of SARS cases by giving more public directives, eg, answering questionnaires and temperature taking for public gatherings in confined places. May I ask him what kind of treatment has been given in our public hospitals for SARS patients? Have we had cases where they were less responsive to previous treatment, suggesting maybe a more virulent or mutated virus? May I also ask him how near is Singapore in the development of a quick and reliable testing kit for SARS? Could I also ask the Minister whether it is true that Ward 55 and Ward 68 in NUH had probable and suspect cases of SARS yesterday, with a plan of removing them en bloc to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but was aborted in the evening? Could he clarify this?

Mr Loh Meng See (Jalan Besar): Sir, I think one of the concerns of the members of the public is the survivability if the person were to be suspected of SARS. The concern is the number of deaths and mortality rate. One way of addressing it is that many get out of it but, on the other hand, a number have succumbed to it. I wonder if we have learnt from the lessons of those who have passed away. Is there a better way of treating and taking care of these patients so that we can enhance the rate of survival of our patients?

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Sir, I have two questions for the Deputy Prime Minister. My first question concerns the nation's rice stockpile. In view of what has happened in the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, I would like to know whether we should take steps to relocate our stockpile of rice to different locations, because I understand that all our rice is situated in one locality. Would it be prudent for us to take some steps to ensure that, in case there is a repetition of what has happened in the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, our supply of rice would not be affected?

The second question I have relates to a report which I read in the newspapers a few days ago. It quoted the Minister for Trade and Industry as having said that some headway has been made in the progress in negotiations with the Chinese authorities to allow Chinese tour groups to come to Singapore again. Sir, I know we are in a dilemma over this. On the one hand, we need to do something to boost the tourism sector to fill our hotel rooms and to allow our retail shops to have more business but, on the other hand, I am just wondering whether this is really the right time to push for more Chinese tourist arrivals, in view of the fact that China is accounting for more than half of the SARS cases around the world. And here, we are talking about quarantining newly-arrived foreign workers. So, are we, in fact, doing the right thing?

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Mr Speaker, first, I want to express my personal appreciation and admiration to our medical and healthcare workers for their good work and sacrifices. I have two questions for the DPM.

Firstly, I must say that my Malaysian friends and many other foreigners have a very dim view of what we are doing here in Singapore, especially when they thought that we are in a very gloomy and dooming state. I would like to ask whether we should carry this psychological PR war to the international media so that we present ourselves as doing everything we can and keeping the situation under control.

Secondly, we all know that PRC is a very significant source of infection. I would like to know whether the Singapore Government, as well as the international community, can do more to impress upon the PRC authorities to take extraordinary efforts to control and contain this spread. Because whatever we do here, if more come from overseas, particularly from China, we have this going on and on, we will have great difficulties. I would like to ask whether we could share whatever we know in Singapore with the PRC authorities as well as other ASEAN countries which we intend to do soon.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied): Sir, DPM has mentioned that if the situation does not improve, the unemployment situation will get worse. At this point in time, for those industries that have been affected, besides looking at the cost-cutting measures, would we also want to urge the Government and the employers to do more to see how we can actually enhance the employability of this group of workers? So, if the worse situation happens, they will not just end up with nowhere to go and cannot find a job.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo (West Coast): First, I would like to commend the Minister for Health and our Government for having taken a very transparent approach in managing the SARS issue. I have a question for DPM Lee, and that is, in view of the downturn, especially in the service sector, is there any consideration for us to re-look at the CPF contributions by employers, perhaps a reduction during this period? This is because I remember an old lady telling me once that if you do not have fresh vegetables to eat daily, why think of drying and preserving vegetables. Once the economy turns around, we can perhaps look into a restoration again. This will work towards helping to save jobs for the workers.

Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh): In view of the incident at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Bowen Secondary School, I am just a bit concerned about the places for mass gathering. Are the schools and the institutions of higher learning (IHL) equipped to handle these operational changes of this crisis? Would there be more resources given to the schools and the IHL to handle these issues?

Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang (Nominated Member): Sir, I would like to refer to the societal battlefront that the DPM and Finance Minister mentioned. In trying to boost our psychological defence in this area, I agree with some of the hon. Members about the public perception and the kind of information that they are receiving regarding two very important critical aspects of our containment and isolation policies, ie, the Home Quarantine Orders. We get a glimpse of some of the SOPs that have been put in place, but to the lay person and the neighbours, it is still not very clear what home quarantine actually means. What we understand is that not everybody is actually put under quarantine at home, but only certain categories. Then, would there be a danger of cross-contamination for those who are allowed to leave the home? But if you were to ringfence everybody in, there is a question of daily living. It is not very clear how this is going to be maintained.

The other aspect would be those who have to go for treatment in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. We have been told that the earlier you go and seek treatment, the better it is. But after that, it is blank. Nobody really knows what happens in it. And again, as hon. Members have mentioned, there are the misperception and all kinds of rumours and exaggerated horror stories about what happens. So, we also need to know what would the progress of the illness be like, so that it is in the interest of a potential victim to say that, "The earlier I go for treatment, my survival chances are better." We do not get the idea because there is no profiling of what it means to be a patient and if your treatment is too late, what happens. I know that there are variations but in a general sense, it is to assure the public that these two aspects ---

Mr Speaker: You are making a long speech, Prof. Ngiam. What is your question?

Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang: My question is that we need more information and better explanation as far as the lay person is concerned.

Mdm Halimah Yacob: Sir, we have received feedback from our healthcare unions that the healthcare personnel in the public sector is actually facing tremendous pressure because there are a lot of healthcare personnel themselves, ie, healthcare workers, who are affected. I would like to ask the Minister what more can be done to rope in support from the private healthcare sector, ie, the private hospitals and private healthcare personnel, to support the work of the public sector healthcare personnel.

Mr Ang Mong Seng (Hong Kah): Sir, we are going to carry out temperature checking for all the stallholders in the markets and food centres. In the whole of Singapore, we have more than 100 market centres. Currently, this job is carried out by the volunteers, ie, the CCC or CCMC members. I would like to know how long this would carry on and whether the committee can mobilise some of the medical staff to help to do the job.

Miss Penny Low: I would like to ask the Minister of Health. I understand from Today newspaper that Ribavirin is the most preferred oral medicine for SARS but it has long-term effects on the foetus. In other words, if pregnant ladies ever consume it, it might lead to negative consequences on the baby. What could be done to help protect our healthcare workers who are currently pregnant and are in the SARS battlefield? Should leave be given to them or should they be reassigned to jobs where they are not exposed to SARS?

Dr Warren Lee: I would like to ask the Minister for Health if he could help clarify two matters that arose in the Sembawang area. I wonder whether the Minister could clarify the arrangements made for families who are under Home Quarantine Orders. Is it clear that groceries would be delivered and, if so, what types of groceries would be delivered to them? Would they be expected to ask their friends and relatives to help provide for their daily necessities? I think there is some confusion on the ground regarding the facilities being given.

The other issue is the prominent space given in the newspapers one or two days ago regarding a person who came back from China and refused screening at the airport and a check-up. I understand that legislation may be introduced in this regard. But currently, can a person refuse screening? And if he or she has been screened somewhere else and has been given a clean bill of health, how much credence will be given to that clean bill of health?

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam: I have got a question actually for the Inter-Ministerial Committee about foreign students in the various institutions. When they return for their studies, is there anything here where quarantining them is concerned? The other question is: healthcare workers sometimes do get into their own habits and since we are here with SARS for some time, what can be done now, where the medical students at NUS are concerned, such that the component on infection control is revved up?

Mr Speaker: Are there any more questions? If none, I am afraid Members will have to wait for their answers because I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 3.40 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 3.13 pm until 3.40 pm. Sitting resumed at 3.40 pm