More than 24,000 people have pre-enrolled for Healthier SG with their regular doctors: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE: More than 24,000 people have pre-enrolled for the Healthier SG programme with their regular doctors, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Tuesday (May 30).

This number is better than expected and bodes well for the formal launch of the programme in July, he said.

Mr Ong was speaking at the opening of Fullerton Health's new health screening centre in Novena.

Unveiled in 2022, Healthier SG focuses heavily on preventive care and aims to have Singaporeans and permanent residents take charge of their own healthcare by enrolling with a single doctor who will support them in their health needs throughout their lives.

"As of yesterday, over 24,000 individuals have pre-enrolled with their regular GPs (general practitioners). The number is higher than what I had expected," Mr Ong said.

"GPs told me that these patients have enrolled with little persuasion. So I think the message of preventive care and managing diseases proactively has resonated. If anything, our package of benefits under Healthier SG is working so far."

With the "good momentum" for pre-enrolment, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be ready to formally launch Healthier SG on Jul 5, Mr Ong added.

The pre-enrolment exercise was launched earlier this month for existing chronic patients aged 40 and older.

Mr Ong said that the ministry will make the Healthier SG enrolment as simple as possible, with the process very similar to the one used for booking COVID-19 vaccinations.

"Eligible residents will receive an SMS invite from MOH, which will link you to HealthHub, where you can enrol with your family doctor," he said.

"Invitations, just like vaccination invitations, will go out in batches, starting with Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 60 years and above and with chronic diseases, followed by others in the same age group."

Enrolment may be extended to a younger age group – those aged between 40 and 59 – once the system has been "run in", he added.

As of this month, more than 870 of the 1,200 eligible Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) GP clinics have already joined Healthier SG, Mr Ong said.

CHANGING MINDSETS

While the initial interest in Healthier SG has been encouraging, this is only the start of "a very long journey", Mr Ong said.

"We will need to work hard to sustain the momentum, and continue to change mindsets and behaviours," he said.

"Enrolment on the part of residents is just the start. Over time, by working with our family doctors and with the support of communities and employers, each of us must take personal action to keep ourselves healthy as a way of life."

Mr Ong said that the changing of mindsets will also apply to family doctors, with the Healthier SG programme aiming to reshape patient-doctor relationships.

"The conversations between doctors, patients and residents have to be different; the emphasis needs to be on trust and relationship, and seeing a doctor cannot be a transaction just to get medication or an MC (medical certificate)," he said.

"For example, seeing a patient is no longer just about prescribing medication. Doctors will be asking them about their life and health goals, and persuading them that simple, healthy habits do pay off in the long term.

"And if the patient is receptive, doctors can guide them in the right direction through referrals to community programmes, services and evidence-based screenings."

The health minister said that he is "quietly optimistic that things can change", sharing that several seniors in the community he serves in Sembawang had already come forward to thank MOH for the Healthier SG programme.

"They said that their doctors are now reminding them to take their vaccinations and medications diligently and to be physically active," he said.

"Many of my residents are now actively signing up for physical activities organised by the Health Promotion Board and the People's Association."