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Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor have both delivered their speeches for the Committee of Supply 2012 debates.
In the second part of his speech on Healthcare 2020 today, Minister Gan outlined the plans to provide Singaporeans with quality and affordable care. These include:
-Providing for more seamless and holistic care by introducing Regional Health Systems, in which acute general hospitals will partner community hospitals, nursing homes, home care, day rehab providers, polyclinics and GPs in the region for more integrated care of patients;
-Reviewing the healthcare financing framework to provide more assistance in outpatient and intermediate & long-term care as the population ages.
In his second speech, Minister Gan delved into the initiatives and plans of the Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA), with the key focus being on enabling the elderly to age-in-place. This will be achieved in two ways – by building an inclusive environment, and providing good aged care. With regard to the latter, the focus will be on promoting accessibility, affordability and quality of care.
Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor touched on the initiatives that will be put in place to recruit and retain healthcare workers in the intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) sector. These include pay increments for those employed in MOH-funded ILTC institutions, various productivity initiatives, and advanced skills training for locals.
In her second speech of the day, Dr Amy Khor spoke on working with and through the community for better health outcomes for Singaporeans. Her speech focused on promoting community-based mental health service, as well as new initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles, such as wider availability of healthier hawker fare, reducing trans fat intake, and reducing smoking.