~Apa2 pasal Hospital/Klinik/Dentist/Optician/ Sinseh dan Rawatan Tradisional

fatz

Singapura : 27 Ogos 2007         
         
DUA PUSAT PAKAR RAWATAN SAKIT JANTUNG, BARAH DI NUH

Oleh
Azahar Mohd

DUA pusat pakar rawatan penyakit barah dan jantung akan ditubuhkan di Hospital Universiti Nasional (NUH) bagi menampung permintaan yang bertambah untuk penjagaan kesihatan peringkat tinggi yang khusus.

Kementerian Kesihatan (MOH) juga sedang menimbangkan untuk membangunkan semula Pusat Jantung Nasional (NHC) yang kini merawat hampir 50 peratus pesakit baru yang dirujuk hospital awam.

Mendedahkan demikian semalam, Menteri Kesihatan, Encik Khaw Boon Wan, berkata langkah tersebut bertujuan menampung bilangan pesakit yang bertambah akibat penduduk yang semakin tua dan jumlah penduduk Singapura yang dijangka terus meningkat dalam tempoh 10 tahun lagi.

'Penduduk Singapura kini mencapai 4.5 juta dan kita perlu membuat persediaan sekarang bagi menampung penduduk yang boleh mencapai 6 juta.

'Itulah sebabnya kita telah membina Hospital Khoo Teck Puat di Yishun dan merancang sebuah lagi hospital di kawasan Barat.

'Selain menambah bilangan katil di hospital, di peringkat rawatan pakar pula, seperti rawatan jantung dan barah, bilangan pesakit terus melonjak, terutama disebabkan bilangan penduduk yang semakin tua. Lantas kita perlu menubuhkan dua pusat pakar baru ini,' ujar beliau.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui wartawan di akhir larian Cabaran Presiden di Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak KK.

Menurut MOH, bilangan kes barah dijangka bertambah daripada 9,000 kes setiap tahun kepada 13,000 kes menjelang 2015.

Rawatan pesakit luar bagi penyakit jantung pula akan meningkat daripada 200,000 setiap tahun kepada 320,000 menjelang 2015.

MOH berkata, NUH dipilih untuk menyediakan dua pusat itu kerana hospital tersebut sudah pun mempunyai kepakaran mereka dalam menangani penyakit tersebut.

MOH juga akan meningkatkan sokongan dana tahunannya kepada NUH sama seperti sokongan yang diberikan sekarang kepada NHC dan Pusat Barah Nasional (NCC) di Kampus Outram.

Langkah untuk menyediakan klinik-klinik tambahan dan sumber-sumber diagnostik di NUH akan turut dilaksanakan.

virgomal

hari selasa lepas V kena antar kat Alexandra Hospital...
ada cos ah... pukul 2pm start... 2.03pm baru perasan dah lewat
V kat vivo tu mkn borak

fatz

Patients can better plan visits to polyclinics with online information
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 September 2007 2157 hrs


SINGAPORE: Patients can now check online which polyclinics have the longest queues at the various counters. A real-time webcam queue watch will also help them find out how many people are in the queues.

Information such as attendance volumes and typical waiting times for registration and consultation at each polyclinic is updated monthly.

This new service will help patients choose a polyclinic which is less crowded or where the waiting time is shorter.

Webcam queue watch also provides time charts that show the peak and non-peak periods.

The initiative is a collaboration between SingHealth and National Health Group Polyclinics.

For waiting times and attendance volume, please log on to: http://he.ecitizen.gov.sg/hecorp/healthcare.aspx?i.

For real-time webcam images, please log on to: http://he.ecitizen.gov.sg/hecorp/qwatch.aspx - CNA/ac

fatz

Health Ministry unveils S$2b infrastructure masterplan
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 September 2007 1951 hrs
         

SINGAPORE: Singapore's medical landscape is set to be transformed by 2015 with a S$2 billion infrastructure masterplan.

Under the masterplan will be new facilities, including a new general hospital in Jurong and a centre to manage addiction problems.

Breaking new ground for the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is the new Pathology Building. When completed in 2010, it will ramp up laboratory services at SGH by 50 percent.

The facility will bring together several labs, improving workflow and service delivery, and boosting the hospital's training facilities.

Focusing on integration and efficient resource management is the main theme of other medical institutions planned for Singapore.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said: "When we underestimate demand, the result is overcrowding at hospitals, as we now experience at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. If we over-estimate demand and over-supply, we end up with under-utilised assets - a costly outcome.

"Between over-supply and under-supply, I would prefer to slightly under-supply than to over-supply as this will put pressure on ourselves to intensify usage and minimise over-consumption."

And on that basis, the Ministry revealed details of its masterplan.

The new Khoo Teck Puat hospital in Yishun will open in 2010 and more general hospitals are planned, including one in Jurong which will open before 2015.

National specialty centres such as the ones on heart disease and cancer will be built at the National University Hospital. Current centres will also be expanded.

National Heart Centre will be rebuilt; the Communicable Diseases Centre will be redeveloped to house a National Public Health Laboratory and an Infectious Diseases Research Centre.

Another key element in the masterplan is to boost primary and step-down care. That is why Queenstown Polyclinic is being rebuilt

fatz

Cheaper mammograms offered as part of breast cancer month
Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 26 minutes ago

SINGAPORE : Hospitals and clinics all over Singapore will be offering discounted mammograms for women aged 40 and above in October.
ADVERTISEMENT

This is part of the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Organisers want to promote early screening because it saves lives.

1,100 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Singapore each year.

49梱ear梠ld Verena Thomas is now free of breast cancer, thanks to early detection.

She found out about her condition when she went for a mammogram.

"You realise that it抯 so important to take a little time to have your screenings done, ... whether it抯 for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, it will ultimately save your life," said Thomas.

And saving lives is what the organisers of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month are aiming to do.

A study of over 12,000 households conducted in 2004 showed that 80% of women aged between 40 and 69 knew about mammograms. But only 60% of them have gone for such a screening.

One in every 20 women in Singapore will get breast cancer, and about five women die from it each week.

In fact, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer梤elated deaths in women.

But breast cancer is treatable.

Experts said 95% of those who are diagnosed early are still cancer梖ree, five years later.

"If we (detect) breast cancer early, the cure rate can be up to 100%. That means no one will die from breast cancer. Mammograms are more sensitive than doctors

fatz

Cheaper mammograms offered as part of breast cancer month
Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 26 minutes ago

SINGAPORE : Hospitals and clinics all over Singapore will be offering discounted mammograms for women aged 40 and above in October.
ADVERTISEMENT

This is part of the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Organisers want to promote early screening because it saves lives.

1,100 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Singapore each year.

49梱ear梠ld Verena Thomas is now free of breast cancer, thanks to early detection.

She found out about her condition when she went for a mammogram.

"You realise that it抯 so important to take a little time to have your screenings done, ... whether it抯 for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, it will ultimately save your life," said Thomas.

And saving lives is what the organisers of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month are aiming to do.

A study of over 12,000 households conducted in 2004 showed that 80% of women aged between 40 and 69 knew about mammograms. But only 60% of them have gone for such a screening.

One in every 20 women in Singapore will get breast cancer, and about five women die from it each week.

In fact, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer梤elated deaths in women.

But breast cancer is treatable.

Experts said 95% of those who are diagnosed early are still cancer梖ree, five years later.

"If we (detect) breast cancer early, the cure rate can be up to 100%. That means no one will die from breast cancer. Mammograms are more sensitive than doctors

fatz

Cheaper mammograms offered as part of breast cancer month
Channel NewsAsia
Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 26 minutes ago

SINGAPORE : Hospitals and clinics all over Singapore will be offering discounted mammograms for women aged 40 and above in October.


This is part of the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Organisers want to promote early screening because it saves lives.

1,100 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Singapore each year.

49梱ear梠ld Verena Thomas is now free of breast cancer, thanks to early detection.

She found out about her condition when she went for a mammogram.

"You realise that it抯 so important to take a little time to have your screenings done, ... whether it抯 for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, it will ultimately save your life," said Thomas.

And saving lives is what the organisers of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month are aiming to do.

A study of over 12,000 households conducted in 2004 showed that 80% of women aged between 40 and 69 knew about mammograms. But only 60% of them have gone for such a screening.

One in every 20 women in Singapore will get breast cancer, and about five women die from it each week.

In fact, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer梤elated deaths in women.

But breast cancer is treatable.

Experts said 95% of those who are diagnosed early are still cancer梖ree, five years later.

"If we (detect) breast cancer early, the cure rate can be up to 100%. That means no one will die from breast cancer. Mammograms are more sensitive than doctors

fatz

New laser treatment cures neck pain without surgery
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 September 2007 2024 hrs
         

SINGAPORE: A treatment without surgery is now available for those who suffer from neck pain due to a slipped disc.

The S$7000 treatment, which has been around for one year, uses a laser to vaporise part of the tissue surrounding the disk.

This reduces the pressure on the disc thereby alleviating the pain felt by the patient.

Previously the options were to operate or undergo physiotherapy.

Bernard Lee, a specialist from the Pacific Pain Care Centre, said: "The patient goes back to rehabilitation very quickly. The next day, they (can) go back to work if they want to.

"If not, they can undergo some kind of exercise regime. (This will) help to strengthen the muscle around that area and the pain may not come back ever again." - CNA/vm

fatz

NHG to modernise 9 polyclinics over next two years
By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 September 2007 1925 hrs
         

The National Healthcare Group is embarking on a project to modernise nine polyclinics over the next two years.

Jurong Polyclinic was the first to undergo the renovations which were completed in February this year.

Finished at a cost of S$2.8 million, it is earning rave reviews from residents.

The cooler air is probably the first thing visitors notice when they step into the Polyclinic.

Next is a shorter waiting time following the introduction of an automated registration process.

With a few simple steps of scanning an identity card, and selecting from an easy to read touch screen, a visitor gets a queue number in no time.

Helping to officially re-open the polyclinic, Minister and MP for Jurong Lim Boon Heng was impressed with the modernisation.

He says Singapore's 18 polyclinics form an important backbone of the healthcare system.

He says: "Today, polyclinics have grown to become a one-stop healthcare centre with services that include health education, health screening, X-ray services, lab services and even minor procedures. With such a wide range of services that is affordably priced, it is not surprising why the number of people regularly going to the polyclinics have been rising over the years."

In fact, National Healthcare Group's nine polyclinics saw some 2.2 million patients last year.

Singapore Health Services manages the country's nine other polyclinics.

But with modernisation would patients end up paying more for their visits?

Dr Jason Cheah, CEO, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, says: "In fact for some of the services that we have started like teleradiology where we have filmless X-rays now done, it actually allowed us to have some savings and we passed those savings on to patients. X-rays cost 70 cents less than what it used to be a year and a half ago."

National Healthcare Group will use lessons learned with upgrading Jurong to its other branches.

Woodlands Polyclinic will be next and it will be closed sometime in November for renovations. - CNA/ch

fatz

SGH's new Patient Bedside Terminal to benefit patients, clinicians
By Jessica Yeo, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 October 2007 2203 hrs
         

SINGAPORE : More hospitals are going digital these days, and a new Patient Bedside Terminal is being tested at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), for the benefit of both patients and clinicians.

40-year-old Victor Lee is always on the go and he is not letting his slip disc operation change that.

With the new Patient Bedside Terminal trial at SGH, patients are now not separated from their everyday lives.

They can access a range of entertainment and internet services through a 17-inch touch screen integrated information system.

They can also experience a personal touch through the video nurse-call feature, instead of the traditional press-a-button feature.

The user-friendly system can also be easily mastered.

Mr Lee said: "I find it convenient because I can watch TV, surf the internet and check my mail and play games on it. (It is) something new from the traditional way of doing things."

The Patient Bedside Terminal also benefits the clinicians, who are now able to access and display information easily.

It also helps in work efficiency, reduces potential human error, and improves patient care and safety.

Dr Chia Shi-Lu, Associate Consultant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, said: "We wanted to be (able to) share a patient's information with the patient more clearly and more accurately, so our patients will be able to better understand what care they are undergoing, and they are able to participate in the care together with the health team."

The terminal will go on trial at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Changi General Hospital in November.

It will be fully implemented at the Singapore General Hospital by next year. - CNA/ms

fatz

Two international cancer research centres to set up in S'pore
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 November 2007 2227 hrs
         
  

SINGAPORE: Two leading overseas cancer research institutes, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, are setting up in Singapore.

"We, in Singapore, are naturally thrilled. Your decisions to locate here will bring to Singapore and Asia valuable resources and networking opportunities that complement the strengths of local healthcare and research institutions," said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan Sunday evening at the AACR's Asia Centennial Conference.

"It is also a strong validation of Singapore's growing importance as a global node in cancer research. These developments will boost our bio-medical science efforts, and strengthen our capability in cancer research to bring new and novel therapeutics to cancer patients," he added.

The global, non-profit Ludwig Institute will set up a research branch in Singapore for translational and clinical research. It will be the institute's first branch in Asia as the other nine are in Australia, Europe and the Americas.

But Mr Khaw also stressed the importance of health economics to ensure the system is sustainable and affordable for patients.

Anti-cancer drugs such as herceptin for breast cancer cost tens of thousands of dollars in the United States, he said this has led to spiralling insurance premiums that have become too high for some employers to cover, leaving some patients unable to afford treatment.

To fight cancer, the minister stressed that not only more investment in clinical research is needed, but also greater international collaboration to maximise synergies and the chances of success. - CNA/ac

deaf4ever

kat one of the private klinik ek.. ( collect on behalf nye pattern )

breakdown harga... kalo kena charge $11.

pil tak bleh buang air besar - 10 bijik $3 , dapat 30 bijik jadi dah about $9 kan. Sekali makan dua bijik, lepas dinner.
pil tido yang kaler biru ( ntah apa nama dia aku dah lupa ), 5 bijik - kalo belen 11-9 = $2, so satu bijik 40sen. ( tapi pil tido tak bleh ambik kat kaunter, kena masuk dalam jumpa doktor personally )

sekian laporan harga...

So yang bayar memahal tu semua memang bukan harga pil2 dia, consultation fee ler, nak bayar gaji nurse lagik, api air lagik, sewa lagik...doktor takkan nak makan mee maggi lepas tu naik bas ngan mrt je kan...
so semua pun nak kena kira jugak

[ Last edited by  deaf4ever at 13-11-2007 02:07 AM ]

LoLiPoP

betul tu...

aku punya bc pills satu papan harga lain, pastu ada additional $2 per papan.
so aku selalu beli untuk 3 bulan, dapat 3 papan kan? then additional fees dia should be $2x3=$6 kan? tapi dorang charge aku $5 je.

so total aku bayar untuk 3 papan dalam $20.

mahal gak seyyy

fatz

West Point Hospital re-opens after S$3m facelift
Posted: 25 November 2007 1959 hrs

SINGAPORE: After a year of renovations, Jurong Hospital

fatz

National Cancer Centre launches first satellite clinic
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 November 2007 1738 hrs
         

SINGAPORE : The National Cancer Centre of Singapore will open its first satellite clinic outside of its Outram premises, at the 97-year-old Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.

Riding on the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital's low healthcare costs and expertise in geriatric care, the National Cancer Centre will run a geriatric oncology clinic at the hospital premises from next week.

It will offer oral chemotherapy, and step-down or rehabilitative treatment for recovering patients.

The clinic will charge a subsidised rate of $15 for each consultation. Other charges will also be similarly subsidised.

The hospital also plans to offer simple intravenous chemotherapy.

The hospital estimates at least 10 patients in its first week, and expects the number to increase in the near future, as the hospital is well-known among the elderly Chinese population.

Said Yim Sau Kit, CEO of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital: "The reason why Kwong Wai Shiu can run it at a subsidised cost is (because) our overhead costs are lower than tertiary hospitals. Therefore we can charge the patient a lot cheaper."

"For example, the average in-patient cost is $68 a day, and we have an arrangement with our suppliers and consultants to give us a discounted rate. We also tap a lot on the goodwill of volunteers who come here to offer their services and expertise free of charge."

This is not the first time the cancer centre is collaborating with the hospital. Together, they had set up a geriatric cancer ward in November last year and are on track to renew their partnership this year.

"A lot of the cancer patients will need not just financial help, but a lot of the other social aspects of healthcare, which they (Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital) can provide, (such as) community support, transportation and medical fees (subsidies)," said Professor Soo Khee Chee, director of the National Cancer Centre of Singapore.

The charity hospital also plans to offer cancer screening and public education on geriatric cancer. - CNA /ls

fatz

Singapura : 1 Disember 2007         
         
RAWATAN LEBIH MURAH BAGI PESAKIT BARAH

Klinik khusus bagi warga senja dibuka minggu depan

Oleh
Saini Salleh

PARA pesakit barah kini mempunyai satu lagi kemudahan rawatan yang lebih murah apabila sebuah klinik khusus untuk penyakit itu dibuka di Hospital Kwong Wai Shiu (KWSH) di Serangoon Road minggu depan.

Dengan kerjasama Pusat Barah Kebangsaan Singapura (NCCS), ia dibuka bagi memenuhi keperluan golongan warga senja, tanpa mengira kaum, yang diserang barah.

Dalam kenyataan bersama, NCCS dan KWSH berkata klinik satelit pertama di luar pusat tersebut di Outram Road bakal merawat pesakit barah yang tidak memerlukan rawatan intensif.

Pakar Barah, Dr Donald Poon, dan dua jururawat akan menyediakan khidmat rawatan pada fasa awal klinik tersebut.

Klinik Satelit NCSS itu juga akan dapat membantu meringankan beban pusat barah di kampus perubatan Outram, yang selalu mempunyai ramai pesakit menunggu untuk menemui doktor pakar.

Bagi yang perlu mendapatkan rawatan di wad, KWSH telah menyediakan sebuah wad khusus untuk mereka.

Kenyataan itu berkata klinik tersebut dibuka dengan memanfaatkan kos penjagaan kesihatan KWSH yang rendah dan kepakarannya dalam penjagaan pesakit tua.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KWSH, Cik Yim Sau Kit, berkata:

'Wad ini boleh menampung 20 pesakit dan terdapat pilihan bagi meluaskan perkhidmatan di blok lain yang boleh menampung lagi 30 pesakit.'

Pengarah NCCS, Profesor Soo Khee Chee, pula berkata:

'Manfaat kerjasama ini bukan sekadar mengendalikan klinik satelit bagi pesakit barah, malah ia bermakna pesakit boleh menikmati khidmat yang sama dan menjimatkan kos.'

Klinik itu akan menawarkan kemoterapi menerusi oral dan rawatan pemulihan bagi pesakit yang semakin sembuh.

Bagi sesi menemui doktor dan ubat yang standard, ia mengenakan bayaran bersubsidi $15 bagi setiap kunjungan.

Jika ubat bukan standard, pesakit dikenakan kos ubat dan bayaran tambahan 4 peratus.

Klinik itu juga merancang menawarkan kemoterapi menerusi saluran darah, pemeriksaan bagi mengesan barah dan pendidikan awam mengenai barah di kalangan warga senja.

fatz

Singapura : 3 Disember 2007        
         
IMBASAN CT-SCAN TIDAK LAGI MENAKUTKAN

Oleh
Chairul Fahmy Hussaini

PESAKIT dewasa dan kanak-kanak kini tidak lagi perlu gementar apabila menjalani ujian imbasan radiologi atau CT-Scan di bilik-bilik ujian.

Ini kerana sebuah syarikat penjagaan kesihatan, Royal Philips Electronics, telah memperkenalkan sebuah sistem imbasan yang mesra pesakit dengan menyediakan suasana bilik ujian yang santai dan tenteram.

Bahkan, lebih menyeronokkan, pesakit boleh memilih suasana bilik ujian itu mengikut tema pilihan mereka, seperti tema suasana pulau peranginan atau suasana yang dipenuhi dengan karakter-karakter kartun.

Sistem terbaru itu diperkenalkan semasa Persidangan ke-93 Pertubuhan Radiologi Amerika Utara (RSNA) di Chicago, Amerika Syarikat, minggu lalu.

'Pelbagai tema suasana, daripada kartun hingga kepada sekitaran pulau peranginan disediakan bagi mententeramkan pesakit yang bimbang bila berdepan dengan mesin ujian imbasan,' kata Naib Presiden merangkap Pengurus Besar Sistem Perubatan Philips, Encik Wayne Spittle.

Dengan menyediakan sekitaran yang relaks itu, para doktor dapat mengurangkan rasa bimbang pesakit di bawah usia 18 tahun sebanyak 16 peratus, dan 28 peratus bagi kanak-kanak berusia di bawah empat tahun,.

Satu lagi inovasi Philips adalah keupayaan ujian imbasannya bagi pemeriksaan barah usus.

Ujian bebas pembedahan itu membantu pesakit daripada menghadapi risiko usus kecilnya tercucuk oleh alat pembedahan.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Sistem Perubatan Philips, Encik Steve Rusckowski, berkata antara 25 dengan 30 mesin imbasan tercanggih itu akan diuji di serata dunia, termasuk di Singapura September depan.

fatz

Dec 4, 2007         
Yishun hospital to cost $100m more
By Salma Khalik & Teh Joo Lin

THE new general hospital in Yishun is going to cost about 30 per cent, or $100 million, more than planned because of the construction boom.

This would push the cost of the 550-bed hospital up from the estimated $400 million to about $500 million, including beds and all the equipment needed to get it running.

It could be even higher, said Mr Liak Teng Lit, chief executive officer of Alexandra Hospital, who will run the new facility.

This is because the five bids received in last month's tender for the superstructure works alone, ranged from $350 million to $480 million.

This is higher than the $320 million estimate from two years ago to build the entire hospital. Add another $80 million for equipment, beds and other fixtures and the total comes to $400 million - the original price tag.

So far, a $67 million contract for piling works and construction of the basement has been awarded, in October last year.

Although bids have gone up, Mr Liak said that cost will not be the only consideration in awarding the tender.

The 30 per cent increase in cost is the result of building materials, labour and equipment being in critically short supply, with several major construction projects under way. Costs of materials such as steel bars and cement have also risen by more than 20 per cent over the past year.

For the new facility, to be called the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, the Health Ministry has decided to go ahead so that work starts on time next year.

Mr Liak expects its specialist clinics to open their doors on March 28, 2010, while the hospital proper will admit its first patient in September that year.

The urgency is clear: the space crunch at the other public hospitals, which have been told to add more subsidised beds as a temporary measure.

The worst hit is the centrally located Tan Tock Seng Hospital, whose 1,400 beds are often fully taken up. The high demand forces the hospital to close its emergency department to non-critical cases several times a month.

But because of the high construction costs, plans to build another new hospital, in Jurong, have been pushed back.

Also on hold is the building of a bigger Communicable Disease Centre, to replace the century-old buildings now used, and a stand-alone National Addiction Management Centre.

These are among several public-sector projects worth at least $2 billion, planned for next year and 2009, being postponed to help ease the intense pressure on resources in the construction industry.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said at a community event in Woodlands on Sunday that the tender for the Jurong hospital would not be called until prices were 'more reasonable'.

Otherwise, 'unnecessary costs' would be the result.

'The first task...is to settle on the site, which we've not decided yet. Because we are keeping Alexandra Hospital for a while, it's not so urgent.

'But definitely, we'll build it and get it open before 2015,' Mr Khaw said.

fatz

       
Community hospitals to share medical records electronically by Q1
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 December 2007 2057 hrs

SINGAPORE: At least 4,000 patients can expect better care, improved drug safety, fewer repeat tests and lower costs when the Electronic Medical Records Exchange (EMRX) is extended to community hospitals by the first quarter of 2008.

The Health Ministry says the Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Community Hospital is the first to hook up to the EMRX.

EMRX started in November 2007 and has linked up medical records of patients who visit public healthcare institutions such as public hospitals, specialist centres and polyclinics.

With EMRX, doctors in the community hospitals can access electronic medical records of patients who are referred from any restructured hospital.

Likewise, when a patient in step-down care goes back to the restructured hospital, doctors there could also access the patient's records of treatment and medical tests done at the community hospital.

This integration of healthcare across the sector means faster diagnosis and treatment.

The EMRX will be extended to other community hospitals like the Bright Vision Hospital, Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, St Andrew's Community Hospital and St Luke's Hospital by April 2008.

The Health Ministry stressed that patient confidentiality is strictly maintained as only doctors and healthcare professionals who are bound by the law and professional ethics, will have access to patients' electronic medical records. - CNA/vm

fatz

No healthcare subsidies for non-PR foreigners from Jan 1
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 December 2007 1657 hrs

SINGAPORE : From January 1 next year, foreigners who are not Permanent Residents (PRs) will not receive any healthcare subsidy.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said PRs will continue to be subsidised for hospital services, but at 5 percentage points less than citizens.

This will be reduced by another 5 percentage points from 1 July 2008.

For example, for Class B1 ward, subsidy level for PRs will go down from 20% currently to 15% in January.

By July, the subsidy will be reduced further to 10%.

For Class B2 wards, the subsidy will be from 65% currently to 60% in January and then 55% in July.

For Class C wards, the subsidy will be 75% in January, down from 80% currently. This will be further reduced to 70% in July.

Subsidy for day surgery will be reduced from 65% currently to 60% and subsequently 55%.

For Specialist Outpatient Clinic, the subsidy will eventually be 40%, down from 50% currently.

The MOH had announced its decision to revise healthcare subsidy levels for non-citizens during a Parliament sitting earlier this year.

It said the move is to provide a clear distinction in health benefits among Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and other foreigners including foreign workers.

But emergency services at hospital emergency departments will not be affected. All patients will continue to be charged the same fees, regardless of nationality. - CNA /ls