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12 November 2012
Question No. 847
Name of person: Mr Bay Yam Keng
Question
To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry will consider extending the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) to all Singapore citizens satisfying the income criteria, regardless of age; and (b) how is the Ministry raising awareness of the scheme for the public to benefit from it and to encourage private clinics to participate.
Answer
1. We have just enhanced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) in January this year to benefit more Singaporeans, especially those with chronic conditions, by lowering the age criterion for the scheme from 65 to 40 years old and relaxing the income criteria. We are monitoring the impact of these enhancements and will review the scheme again in due course.
2. Since the enhancement of CHAS, we have seen about a 20% increase in the number of participating GP and Dental Clinics to the current 794 clinics. Over 220,000 Singaporeans are CHAS cardholders, a 7 fold increase from about 34,000 before January 2012.
3. MOH, together with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) will continue to engage private clinics to encourage them to come onboard the scheme. We are also reaching out to the community with the support of local Advisors and grassroots leaders to increase awareness and participation in CHAS through various events and activities. Recent engagement efforts include clinic visits, island-wide media campaign, as well as setting up sign-up booths at public hospitals and polyclinics.