Just a brief statement or two, what aspect of the healthcare system, services or infrastructure in Singapore would you like to see the greatest change in? Care to share your thoughts on your comments, please?
Jinsheng, Sufen, Kuanzhong
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What area of our healthcare sector should be improved most?
Dear all,
Just a brief statement or two, what aspect of the healthcare system, services or infrastructure in Singapore would you like to see the greatest change in? Care to share your thoughts on your comments, please?
Jinsheng, Sufen, Kuanzhong
Just a brief statement or two, what aspect of the healthcare system, services or infrastructure in Singapore would you like to see the greatest change in? Care to share your thoughts on your comments, please?
Jinsheng, Sufen, Kuanzhong
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15 comments:
I think Singapore's healthcare system is great! What's there to change about?
People the World over are studying Singapore's World-Class healthcare system.
I think in light of the ageing population, perhaps we should look to some improvements to cater to the needs of those in the sunset years.
See below for an article from SIngapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong:
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to take more responsibility for their health even as he assured the government will pour in more resources into healthcare.
This will ensure more patients can be cared for in community hospitals and at home to prepare for the growing demands of an ageing population.
PM Lee said an ageing population calls for a restructure of the whole healthcare system.
Besides building new hospitals such as the Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital in Yishun and the Jurong General Hospitals in old HDB towns, Singapore needs to build up its step-down care sector including more community hospitals, nursing homes and home care.
Mr Lee said: "Organised properly, they can provide competent, appropriate care especially for elderly patients."
For now, step-down care is largely provided by voluntary welfare organisations but they'll need the government's help to deal with a larger number of elderly patients.
Mr Lee said one key step is to link up acute hospitals with community ones where patients can get treatment at the acute hospital and then recuperate at the community hospital.
He said: "That way, you get appropriate care, you save money and we also free up beds in the acute hospital for more acute cases which needs to be treated."
A few hospitals are already testing this model - for example Tan Tock Seng Hospital with RenCi Hospital as well as Changi General Hospital and St Andrew's Community hospital.
Next up is Jurong General Hospital which will run in partnership with St Luke's Hospital.
PM Lee added: "This arrangement draws on strengths of both parties. The government's professional teams deliver high quality care while VWOs are good at pastoral care and community outreach."
But Mr Lee said patient care must extend beyond community hospitals into the homes so that patients can recover with their families and in familiar surroundings. It's also a cheaper alternative to leaving the elderly patients in hospitals for weeks.
Mr Lee said the Ministry of Health is working on upgrading home care so that care givers and maids looking after elderly patients can benefit from some professional training.
An upgraded home care sector will also see more nurses visiting the patients periodically, check the patients' condition and refer them to doctors and specialists in hospital, if necessary.
He said family doctors can also play a larger role in monitoring and supervising care given.
PM Lee added that the best way to keep health care costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
But a change in attitude and lifestyles require discipline and perseverance and the best way to do this is to harness social links and interests to help individuals stick to good results.
Mr Lee gave the example of The Wellness Programme currently being piloted in 12 constituencies which has been popular and successful.
The programme saw seniors cheerful and happy while maintaining a healthy lifestyle through medical check-ups, regular exercise and social networking.
It will progressively be expanded to cover the whole island.
He also paid tribute to healthcare workers, school principals, teachers and other officials for their dedication in battling the H1N1 virus.
Their work succeeded in delaying the spread of the virus and slowed down its impact on Singapore.
PM Lee said: "You worked under a lot of stress, there must have been some worry, concern over what the dangers might have been, but you did not shirk from your responsibilities, you continued to performed under pressure. I think Singapore owes this team and all of them a debt of gratitude."
In conclusion, Mr Lee said this is how the healthcare system must work, not just against flu but for Singapore's long term well-being so that Singaporeans can enjoy a long life, good health and active sunset years.
http://www.unpan.org/Regions/AsiaPacific/PublicAdministrationNews/tabid/115/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleId/1467/articleId/19774/Default.aspx
Increase the pays of healthcare givers? Hmm..
i agreee. UP the pay of social workers. it's a valuable job to society.
相关政府部门应该建设多些医药研究所 增强医学发明知识 马来亚 如同新加坡 就能成为世界顶尖医科中心 但这并不是一朝一夕能完成 加油！
Yes yes.. I agree with Ruth to increase the salary of the healthcare givers, especially the nurses. I had worked with them before and they are really very passionate about their work... Nothing will stop them from giving their love for the patients.
I salute them!!
I do hope that the waiting time to see the doctor will be shortened. Yesterday, went with my cousin to see the doctor in my neighbourhood, we waited for more than 2 hours even when we called for an appointment. I do understand that it was during peak hours, but perhaps something can be done to shorten the waiting time, maybe hire another doctor, or sms system to inform the patients if their turn is about here? It was really a terrible waiting period for my cousin, he seemed more sick after waiting for so long. sigh..
tx heaps for setting up this blog, think u guys r doing a great job in addressing not all, but at least few major issues of the industry. and that health workers shld be perceived as those excluding the conventional "nurses & doctors" of hospitals circle too.
kudos to ur team.
li yang
THANK YOU. Please keep your views on this coming.
Overall I'm quite satisfied with our public healthcare system. On thing that peeves me is the LONG waiting time when being referred to specialist. The appointment date can be like 2-3 months away!! I really hope this can be improved in the future..
I personally think that the medisave withdrawals limit should be increased for some critical operations. What's the use of having heaps of money in there when we can't use them to help cover part of the hospitalization expenses.
Hi peeps, read in the news today in TODAY 5th Oct 2009. "Your phone could save a life" It is a new service, (world wide first) seeks to direct people speedily to the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) should someone nearby suffer a heart attack. An AED is a portable device that anaylses heart rhythms and advises those who help the victim and need not be medically trained, if an electric shock is needed and provides it. Dr Dana Elliott and a team of helpers leveraged on google maps and that it can be installed in the our phones. I think this is a great breakthrough in technology for emergency crisis. To install this service, go to www.firstaidcorps.org/world-map-of-aed-locations.
I noticed that Banks are also into Healthcare.. Saw this in a Bank's pamphlet: "Special privileges at these XXX medical centres. Health screening packages available" This is good to build an awareness for us, and that to constantly go for medical checks to know our body well. But I hope that this is a benefit for us, and not a profit-generating mechanism.
Hey people, have you seen the advertisement on " Positive Thinking for a healthy Mind", (the ad with the 3 cute animals) Personally, I feel that it is a good commercial ad that emphasizes on positive thinking. A healthy lifestyle begins with a positive mind right? This is one great step in engaging the public and to increase their awareness.This commercial ad really catches my eye. My 3 year niece loves this commercial and always pretend to talk like them. haha.. What do you say?
To know more, pls visit: http://www.healthymind.sg/positivethinking/
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