Conditions Under Chronic Disease Management Programme

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2430 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 6 FEBRUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Carrie Tan
MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 5466

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how are feedback and requests from the public, medical professionals, and members of Parliament weighted when considering whether a condition should be included in the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to be eligible for treatment subsidies; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider creating an additional category to subsidise treatment costs of non-CDMP conditions such as glaucoma which if left untreated can impair the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) of senior persons.

Answer

1      Conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) are regularly reviewed by the Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC). Most recently, gout, allergic rhinitis, and chronic hepatitis B were added to the CDMP from 1 July 2022. In selecting conditions for review for inclusion in the CDMP, feedback and requests from medical professionals, the public, and Members of Parliament are taken into account. The CAC consults clinical experts and considers factors such as disease prevalence, potential benefits of early intervention to patients’ outcomes, and the availability of evidence-based clinical guidelines for appropriate care of the condition. 

2      Eligible patients seeking care for non-CDMP chronic conditions, including glaucoma, can still receive up to 75% subsidies at polyclinics and Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs). Seniors aged 60 and above can also tap on Flexi-MediSave to pay up to $300 per year for the treatment of their non-CDMP chronic conditions at polyclinics, SOCs or Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) clinics. Patients who cannot afford the remaining co-payment after subsidies and MediSave can apply for further financial assistance such as MediFund at public healthcare institutions. No Singaporean will be denied access to appropriate healthcare due to an inability to pay.