Tote Board Pledges S30 Million To Support Community Healthcare Programmes

02 Mar 2009

The healthcare budget will get a boost from Tote Board with a S$30 million injection into the newly created Tote Board Community Healthcare Fund.  The Fund will be used to support health promotion projects and assist healthcare charities in providing long-term care services, such as home healthcare and caregiver empowerment programmes.  It is the intention of Tote Board, through the Community Healthcare Fund, to enhance healthcare support for the community, especially in long-term care services by encouraging innovative programmes and in building capacity and capabilities for the future. 

2 The Fund will be managed by a Committee, chaired by Permanent Secretary (Health), and comprising representatives from Tote Board, MOH, Health Promotion Board, National Council of Social Service as well as independent members.  MOH will provide the administrative support for the Fund, including disbursing the money over a two-year period, with about half available in the first year. 

3 The Fund will be opened to application from community healthcare service providers and is structured to focus on two categories.  The first category of funding will be for preventive and health education projects for the general population.  With increased funding for preventive care programmes in the community, Singaporeans can look forward to more holistic and evidence-based community healthcare screening activities.  There will be more targeted programmes for the elderly in tackling emerging health concerns like chronic diseases.  With stepped-up efforts on public health education, Singaporeans can expect to be better engaged and informed to remain healthy.

4 The second category of funding focuses on aging and long-term care services. As our population ages, there will be greater demand for intermediate and long-term care (ILTC). Some of the additional funds will go into enhancing and widening ILTC options for needy Singaporeans. The Fund will be available to support more holistic home healthcare for elderly patients to enable them to remain at home and in the community.  By encouraging service providers to go beyond the basic level of care to include improving the mental, emotional and social well-being of residents, MOH and Tote Board hopes that care and the quality of life for patients in ILTCs will improve. Besides supporting patients, the fund will also support caregivers in the ILTC sector.  For example, home caregivers will be given information, training and respite care services.  Such support will lead to better care for the elderly at home. 

5 Applications for the Fund will be opened in March 2009.  MOH will be making further announcements on the application process in due course.  Details will also be available on MOH’s website at http://www.moh.gov.sg.  

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

TOTE BOARD

3 MARCH 2009