OPENING ADDRESS BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE “EDUCATE, TEST, TREAT!” MOU SIGNING CEREMONY BETWEEN HCSA COMMUNITY SERVICES AND TZU-CHI FOUNDATION (SINGAPORE) ON THURSDAY 25 JULY 2024

Mrs Kim Lang Khalil, Chief Executive Officer, HCSA Community Services,

Mr Low Swee Seh, Chief Executive Officer, Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore)

Mr Damien Ng, Director, Gilead Sciences, Singapore

Dr Tan Kok Leong, Head of Department, Continuing and Community Care, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning. It is with great pleasure that we gather here today for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between HCSA Community Services and Tzu-Chi Foundation. This partnership is a milestone in our commitment to reduce and treat Hepatitis C, and provide support to high-risk groups in our community.

2. HCSA Community Services has been providing holistic care and support to individuals and families facing challenging circumstances. I am heartened by the progress of the HCSA’s “Educate, Test, Treat!” initiative, or ETT for short, since its launch in July 2022. The ETT initiative is Singapore’s first halfway house-led effort aimed at screening, treating, and educating high-risk groups, particularly former drug offenders, on the Hepatitis C virus. Under the ETT initiative, former drug offenders will be tested for Hepatitis C and referred to Tan Tock Seng Hospital to receive subsidised treatment if needed. Additionally, they also receive social support from halfway houses that will encourage and assist them to complete their treatment.

3. Over the last two years, the ETT initiative has succeeded in screening more than 270 former drug offenders for Hepatitis C. Of those who were screened positive for Hepatitis C, about 4 in 10 have been referred for appropriate follow up. I think there is a gap and we will continue to improve, so that the 6 in 10 can also get the support.

Journey Towards Elimination of the Hepatitis C Virus

4. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Hepatitis Strategy provides a framework for the global elimination of Hepatitis C, and details a set of objectives to be achieved by 2030. This entails achieving a 90% reduction in new infections, 65% reduction in Hepatitis C-related mortality, and 80% treatment rate for existing chronic cases between 2016 and 2030.

5. Singapore has demonstrated good progress towards WHO’s 2030 targets, with low incidences of acute Hepatitis C and Hepatitis C-related mortality. Over the years, the Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with our partner organisations, has implemented initiatives to improve accessibility and affordability of Hepatitis C treatment. These include providing direct access to subsidised specialist care for partner organisations and subsidising antiviral treatment.

6. The introduction of direct-acting antivirals has revolutionised Hepatitis C treatment, offering high cure rates across all genotypes of the virus. Despite this advancement, the uptake of direct-acting antivirals has been hindered by its substantial costs. In response, MOH began to subsidise direct-acting antivirals from 1 October 2018 onwards. This has enhanced the affordability of Hepatitis C treatment for those in need. So I think all the building blocks are in place and we want to ensure that we provide the financial and social support too.

Closing

7. We know that former drug offenders is a group at higher risk of Hepatitis C infection. The ETT initiative was developed based on the understanding that strong social and financial support is needed to help former drug offenders address the risks of Hepatitis C. I am encouraged that the ETT initiative has increased the target of screening 400 former drug offenders this year across the various partnering halfway houses and provide them with treatment. The ETT initiative is currently on track to achieve its target.

8. The success of ETT is testament to the collaborative efforts among HCSA Community Services, halfway house partners including Pertapis Halfway House, The Helping Hand, Selarang Halfway House, and Teen Challenge Singapore, together with the support of Gilead Sciences and Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. I extend my gratitude to all who have been instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition. Clearly, we have good people coming together to do this in tandem.

9. With the collaboration of Tzu-Chi Foundation and its pledge of $83,000, low-income former drug offenders now have additional financial support for Hepatitis C treatment. I hope that this generous support will encourage more to take up potentially life-saving treatment, enabling them to regain their health, and take control of their lives once again.

10. I would really like to express my appreciation to all individuals and organisations who have contributed to the ETT initiative. Your dedication and efforts have made an impact on the lives of many, and I am confident that together, we will continue to make significant strides in our fight against Hepatitis C. Thank you very much.