CHAS to expand service to Singaporeans with chronic health conditions: PM Lee

They will be covered by the scheme regardless of their income.

The Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) will extend their services to Singaporeans with chronic health care conditions regardless of income, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed during the National Day Rally 2018.

The prime minister mentioned diabetes and hypertension amongst these chronic health care conditions which Singaporeans acquire as they age. Other chronic conditions supported by services from CHAS are posted on their website.

The current form of the programme covers Singaporeans who have household monthly income per person of $1,800 and below. It also includes those with households with no income with Annual Value (AV) of home of $21,000 and below.

Lee noted that the new scheme will let Singaporeans to continue having their benefits tiered according to their income.

In his speech, Lee mentioned that member of parliament for Jalan Besar GRC Dr. Lily Neo told him that the CHAS allowed more elderly to visit her giving her the ability to treat the patients before their conditions worsen.

Moreover, Lee said that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is working into building and upgrading polyclinics and medical centres to make sure that Singaporeans have access to “more affordable and high-quality primary care all over Singapore”.

Lee also mentioned recently opened polyclinics including Punggol which focuses on women and children’s health and the Admiralty Medical Centre in Kampong Admiralty which mainly caters to elderly residents by providing health education, eye checks, and fall-risk screening.

He cited that the Ang Mo Kio polyclinic for its bigger ‘improved services’ as well.

“Here you see they have a special dental chair,” he explained. “So that you can put a wheelchair patient and they don’t have to get up and be maneuvered to the dentist separately.”

The MOH has also been building and upgrading polyclinics and medical centres across the island, including newer ones in Punggol and Kampung Admiralty, he said. According Lee, polyclinics in Sembawang, Eunnos, Kallang and Bukit Panjang will be opened by 2020 whilst polyclinics Nee Soon Central and Tampines North will launch by 2023.