Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.

[jw5]

OYK mapped out a strategic plan.

Ong Ye Kung​

23h ·
I mapped out a strategic plan on health technology at the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress today. It’s a bit technical but very exciting. So here it goes. We will:

Inject about $200 million over five years into the MOH Health Innovation Fund, to support ground-up innovations in our public healthcare institutions, including innovations in AI.

Make a centralised push to scale AI use cases up into national projects. This will include using Generative AI for routine documentation of medical records before the end of 2025. It will save a lot of time for our healthcare professionals.

Also include using AI imaging technology across our public hospitals for more accurate and error free diagnosis.

Develop predictive preventive care starting with a national programme for Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) in mid-2025. We will use genetic testing to identify those with FH and through Healthier SG, advise them to take steps to reduce their risk of premature heart diseases. If successful, we will work on other major severe diseases, like common cancers and diabetes too.

Use HEALIX, a cloud-based data infrastructure, to train AI and machine learning tools. HEALIX will be the AI technology factory of the healthcare system.
All this has been many years in the making. Over the years, MOH has been building this block by block, step by step, and now we have a strategic plan for the future.
Read my full speech here: https://go.gov.sg/navigating-health-technology

 

[jw5]

OYK visited Leong Nam Temple.

Ong Ye Kung​

11h ·
Sights and sounds of Kew Ong Yah (Nine Emperor) Festival at Leong Nam Temple. Only in Southeast Asia.

 

[jw5]

OYK takes his fitness to new heights.

Ong Ye Kung

is with Desmond Tan 陈国明.​

12 October at 20:01 ·
Taking my fitness to new heights (literally) with Desmond Tan 陈国明.

 

[jw5]

OYK celebrated the Silver Generation Office’s (SGO) 10th Anniversary.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
Today we celebrate the Silver Generation Office’s (SGO) 10th Anniversary. This is the office of our Silver Generation Ambassadors (SGA).
We may see SGAs in our communtiy, working hard, walking far, knocking on doors, engaging our seniors, explaining to them how various Government schemes work.
SGO and its Ambassadors trace their origins back to a storeroom in Tampines, when it first started. They recruited actively, and by end of 2014, they had 100 people.
Today, we have 6,000 SGAs. SGO has become part of the Ministry of Health, Singapore family. SGO and our SGAs have grown into an indispensable asset to support our senior-related programmes, including helping them stay active and healthy. And we hope more seniors will sign up as SGAs. By helping others, we help ourselves, and stay active, purposeful and healthy.
My thanks to SGO and our SGAs for your 10 years of hard work and dedication. You are making a huge difference to Singapore and our seniors!

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Over $4 billion in government support for S’poreans as MediShield Life premiums go up​

$700 million will go to enhancing means-tested premium subsidies over three years, while $3.4 billion will be given to additional MediSave top-ups. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Zhaki Abdullah
UPDATED

OCT 15, 2024, 09:45 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE - A package of $4.1 billion in support measures will be provided to Singaporeans to cushion the increases in premiums for MediShield Life, planned to go into effect progressively from April 2025.
Of that, $700 million will go to enhancing premium subsidies over three years, while $3.4 billion will be given to additional MediSave top-ups, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Oct 15.
Premiums will go up by an average of 22 per cent by March 2028.

Lower- and middle-income Singaporeans in older age groups will see their premium subsidies increased by 5 to 10 percentage points.
Individuals in these groups will be eligible for premium subsidies of up to 60 per cent from April 1, 2025, up from 50 per cent currently.
The annual MediSave top-ups for Pioneer Generation seniors, aged 75 and older, will be increased by up to $300, bringing the maximum annual top-up to $1,200.

Under the Pioneer Generation Package, those above 90 in 2025 will continue to have their MediShield Life premiums fully covered by these annual top-ups and existing subsidies, while those 90 and below will still see about two-thirds of their premiums covered, said MOH.

Meanwhile, the one-time MediSave bonus under the Majulah Package – to be paid out in December for those born in 1973 or earlier – will be increased to $2,000, a $500 enhancement.
An additional MediSave bonus of $500 will be paid out in 2025 to people born between 1950 and 1973, to help cover the increase in premiums for those with low MediSave balances.
People born between 1974 and 2003, who are due to receive a one-time MediSave bonus of up to $300 in December, will see that amount increase to $500.

The MediSave grant for newborns of Singapore citizens will also increase from $4,000 to $5,000, fully covering their MediShield Life premiums until the age of 21.
Additional Premium Support – aimed at those who are unable to afford their MediShield Life premiums after subsidies, and have limited family support – will be enhanced by $80 million, with the eligibility criteria for such support expanded to cover more lower-income Singaporeans.

Assistant Professor Cynthia Chen of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said such support measures are needed, as premiums rise with age.
The financial burden is especially challenging for lower- and middle-income groups, who typically have less accumulated MediSave savings and may find it difficult to keep up with rising healthcare costs, said Prof Chen, whose research areas include the economics of ageing and healthcare financing.
“Ensuring equitable access to healthcare, regardless of income level, is crucial to preventing financial hardship and protecting vulnerable populations from being disproportionately affected by rising premiums,” she said.

In addition, the Government will release about $600 million from the MediShield Life Fund to allow the premium increases to be capped and phased in, based on a recommendation from the MediShield Life Council.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted this one-time release of capital was made possible by a change to the fund’s risk model.
From the third quarter of 2025, as part of a three-year trial, policyholders aged 40 and above can redeem MediShield Life premium discounts via the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy 365 app at a rate of $2 for 150 Healthpoints, double the regular rate.
This means someone who does about 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day for a year could enjoy an $80 discount off his or her MediShield Life premiums, MOH noted.

Healthpoints are awarded for participating in healthy lifestyle programmes or completing the first health plan consultation after enrolling with a Healthier SG clinic.
From October 2025, MediShield Life and MediSave coverage will also be extended to cover cell, tissue and gene therapy products on MOH’s list of such products, with claim limits to fully cover two in three subsidised patients initially, as part of a pilot financing framework.
To manage healthcare spending in the longer term, beyond measures such as MediShield Life, Mr Ong said the authorities hope to encourage people to stay as healthy as possible through initiatives such as Healthier SG, the national preventive health scheme.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Most people will not feel the brunt of higher MediShield Life premiums: Ong Ye Kung​

(From left) Health Minister Ong Ye Kung with Kiss92 radio hosts The Flying Dutchman, Glenn Ong and Angelique Teo. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Zhaki Abdullah
UPDATED

OCT 18, 2024, 08:54 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE - While MediShield Life premiums will go up following a review of the scheme, most people will not feel the brunt of the increase due to support measures to cushion the blow, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Oct 18.
“When premiums go up, we subsidise more, we top up MediSave more,” he said in an interview on The Big Show on SPH Radio station Kiss92.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Oct 15 that starting in April 2025, premiums for MediShield Life will go up.

By March 2028, the premiums will increase by an average of 22 per cent.
This change is part of an expansion of the national insurance scheme, allowing people to claim more for hospital stays and providing coverage for additional outpatient treatments and selected new ground-breaking therapies.
MOH said more than nine in 10 people here will receive help to more than offset the increases, with $4.1 billion going towards support measures.

For example, from April 2025, lower-income and middle-income Singaporeans in older age groups will receive premium subsidies of up to 60 per cent, up from 50 per cent currently, while the MediSave grant for newborns will increase from $4,000 to $5,000.

Speaking to radio hosts Angelique Teo, Glenn Ong and The Flying Dutchman, Mr Ong noted that one reason for the expansion of MediShield Life is the increasing claim amounts.
According to MOH, MediShield Life payouts increased by 9.8 per cent annually between 2020 and 2023, while the payout per claim went up by 3.4 per cent during that time.
Mr Ong emphasised that increasing claim limits is a pre-emptive step to better safeguard Singaporeans against having to pay large medical bills out of pocket.

For example, under the latest revision, daily claim limits for intensive care unit ward stays will go up from $2,200 to $5,140, he noted.
Asked whether individuals could receive discounts on their premiums for remaining healthy and not making claims from MediShield Life, Mr Ong said this was something the authorities would have to “think very hard about”.
One mechanism to reduce premiums for those who lead healthy lifestyles is to use the Health Promotion Board’s Healthy 365 app, he said.
Mr Ong noted that as part of a three-year trial, policyholders aged 40 and above can redeem MediShield Life premium discounts by earning Healthpoints via the app. These points are awarded for participating in healthy lifestyle programmes or completing the first health plan consultation under Healthier SG.
For example, someone who exercises for an average of 30 minutes daily for a year could redeem $80 worth of discounts on his MediShield Life premiums.

While the authorities will examine data from the trial to see if it can be made permanent, Mr Ong cautioned that it is important not to disadvantage those with medical conditions who may be unable to exercise regularly and therefore cannot claim such discounts.
“The whole point of insurance, especially national insurance like MediShield Life, is to be inclusive,” he said.
During the show, Mr Ong shared details about his exercise routine, noting that he alternates between swimming, cycling, lifting weights and practising pilates, having largely recovered from a partial knee replacement in March 2023.
He said lifespans of 100 years are within reach, with infants today having a good chance of becoming centenarians.
In 2016, a report by Pew Research Centre projected that there could be as many as 3.7 million centenarians worldwide by 2050.
Mr Ong noted, however, that while Singaporeans today have an average life expectancy of about 84 years, the last 10 years of life are not spent in good health.
Beyond just extending lifespan, MOH is interested in extending “health span”, or years spent in good health, he said.
“So our objective is to squeeze that 10 years (of poor health).”

 

[jw5]

OYK makes the The MediShield Life 2024 Review look simple.

Ong Ye Kung​

Yesterday at 01:18 ·
The MediShield Life 2024 Review made simple for you. Know that the Govt’s $4.1b support measures will more than offset the total premium increases arising from the MediShield Life enhancements.

 

[jw5]

OYK visited Xinjiang for the first time.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
I have been to China many times, but this is my first time to Xinjiang, in response to an open invitation from an old friend, Party Secretary of Xinjiang Mr Ma Xingrui.
It is a fascinating region, an interchange between Asia and Europe. In fact, the countries that borders Xinjiang in the West - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan etc - are East of Eastern Europe and referred to as Central Asia. Hence Xinjiang was part of the Silk Road, also the preceding Pottery (陶瓷之路) and Jade Road（玉石之路) , which I learnt from my hosts. Basically, this is a historical thoroughfare for land based trade.
Here, you see many ethnic groups - Chinese, Hui, Kazakhs, Tajiks, Uyghurs - living together, speaking languages that have blended ancient Chinese, Persian, Turkic and Indian languages.
Party Secretary Ma and I spoke at length about economic development, education and health issues in Xinjiang, and strengthening linkages with Southeast Asia and partnership with Singapore.
Our host packed a tight schedule. I visited the Xinjiang Regional Museum, which provided a rich cultural context of the region. My very knowledgeable tour guide of zoomed through 4000 years of history in an hour.
I visited three hospitals - the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University and the Xinjiang International Regional Hospital, which will be operational in Spring next year and cater to international patients, including those from Central Asia.
Finally, visited the famous Tianshan Tianchi scenic area, which has beautiful views of snowcapped mountains and an alpine lake.
Xinjiang is bounded by Altay Mountains in the North, Kunlun Mountains in the South, with Tianshan Mountains cutting through the middle. In between the ranges are two major basins - Junggar and Tarim - both very rich in resources. This is why the Chinese character of "jiang" in Xinjiang - 彊 - is written as such. Can you see Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the mountain ranges and the basins in the character?

 

[jw5]

OYK played this or that.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
Playing This or That on The Big Show with the Kiss92 hosts.

 

[jw5]

OYK met the kids from the CDAC GEM Mentoring Programme at Teck Whye Primary!

“A little from all 一人一点心” by CDAC 华社自助理事会 and Ong Ye Kung
​

·
Meet the kids from the CDAC GEM Mentoring Programme at Teck Whye Primary!
#cdac #ongyekung #GEM

 

[jw5]

OYK thanks volunteers and kids.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
East Canberra was buzzing with tiny heroes, ghouls, and princesses! I met for the first time, a kid dressed as an avocado. Big thanks to all our volunteers, including kids, who also dressed up as entertainers (or rather scarrers), and for organizing a spook-tacular Halloween night!

 

[jw5]

OYK wishes everyone Happy Deepavali from Brazil.

Ong Ye Kung​

10h ·

I’m currently in Brazil for the G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting, but wishing everyone back home a happy Deepavali!

 

[jw5]

OYK had a hectic two days.

Ong Ye Kung​

2h ·
We had quite a hectic two days. One Health was a major topic of discussion. It means how a country manage health holistically, managing the intersections between human, animals and the environment.
During my intervention, I shared Singapore's unique perspective as a city-state, and explained why Minister for Health in Chinese is actually Minister for Hygiene, because disease control is also about living in harmony with our environment.
I also announced Singapore's second contribution of US$10 million to the Pandemic Fund, to strengthen our global health architecture for future pandemics.
The G20 HMM reinforced the importance of international cooperation in tackling global health issues. We need to turn words into action, for a healthier and more resilient world.
Had many meeting with my counterparts. Here are some photos. Leaving Rio de Janeiro for Singapore later today.

#G20

 

[jw5]

OYK managed to visit the Christ the Redeemer monument.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
Managed to visit the Christ the Redeemer monument before we headed to the airport. Very crowded with local tourists on a Friday. The Copacaban and Ipanema beaches were filled with joggers, sunbathers, beach footballers etc. At lunch, waiters served us like they are friends. The delegation was very well taken care of over the past three days. It’s my third visit to Brazil. Each time, I go away thinking that the Brazilians are such generous hosts, and such happy people.

 

[jw5]

OYK strengthens his mind and body.

Ong Ye Kung​

2 November at 20:12 ·
Music. Workout. Strengthen your mind and body.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Singapore contributes $13 million more to global pandemic fund​

The new infusion to the pandemic fund, set up by the World Bank in 2022, raises Singapore’s total contribution so far to US$20 million (S$26.5 million). ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Raul Dancel
Correspondent
UPDATED

NOV 01, 2024, 06:11 PM

FacebookTelegram

SINGAPORE – Singapore has contributed an additional US$10 million (S$13 million) to the global pandemic fund, the health and finance ministries said in a joint statement on Nov 1.
The new infusion – announced at a pledging event attended by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on the sidelines of the Group of 20 joint finance and health ministerial meeting in Brazil on Oct 31 – raises Singapore’s total contribution so far to US$20 million.
“This reflects our (Singapore’s) continued commitment to strengthening the global health architecture in preparation for the next pandemic,” Mr Ong said at the pledging event.

He suggested that the pandemic fund, to maximise its impact, should focus on two areas: global surveillance and enhancing the abilities of less-developed countries to prepare for and respond to future pandemics, especially by upgrading their manpower capabilities.
“Every day of early warning can make a major difference, between life and death, or lockdown and freedom. Every country needs to be the eyes and ears of the others,” he said.
The pandemic fund was set up by the World Bank in 2022 to help developing nations better prepare for pandemics, following the devastation to economies and health systems that Covid-19 left across the globe.

It is meant to fill critical financing gaps and promote a more coordinated approach in prevention, preparedness and response, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Singapore contributed US$10 million to the fund in 2022.
At the health ministerial meeting, Mr Ong underscored the importance of digitalising healthcare, specifically by integrating electronic medical records across various care settings, to improve health span, or years spent in good health, and enable seamless, continual care and artificial intelligence (AI) innovations.
Digitalisation and integration, he said, eliminate “frustrating and unnecessary repeated testing and screening”.
They also enable “AI health innovations”, he added.
He also pointed during the joint finance and health ministerial meeting to the need for finance and health ministers to address the issues of healthcare finance and ageing together.
“An older population means a heavier disease burden and, with it, a higher fiscal burden,” he said.
“Health is already, in many countries, the highest spending item, and it can go up even further, in absolute terms and as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product), and there is a risk of it rising unsustainably,” he added.
Mr Ong said “the fates and interests of health and finance ministries are tied closely together because of ageing, and the fundamental solution is actually to keep seniors active and healthy by tackling the social determinants of health”.

 

[jw5]

OYK makes an announcement.

Ong Ye Kung​

·
With effect from 1 January 2025, Ministry of Health, Singapore and the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will recognise nine more overseas medical schools from Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom, bringing the total to 112 schools. We will henceforth also move to an annual review system.
The recognition system ensures that foreign-trained medical doctors here (both Singaporean and foreign) have received training comparable with their locally-trained peers. The number and names of schools recognised take into account factors such as the schools’ international rankings, the language of instruction, and the performance of doctors from these schools.
As our population ages, we have been growing the pipelines of doctors to support our healthcare needs. We have increased the annual local medical school intake from around 400 students in 2013, to over 500 in 2023, and are supplementing this with doctors from overseas medical schools.
The nine schools can be found here.
https://go.gov.sg/overseas-medical-schools-1jan2025

 

[jw5]

OYK will be in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the next four days.

Ong Ye Kung​

7h ·
Will be in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the next four days. I will be attending the 4th Global High Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Jeddah, followed by a short visit to Riyadh, the capital.
Antimicrobial Resistance is a very serious long term problem in healthcare, where the lack of disciplined usage of antibiotics is leading to ‘superbugs’ that are resistant to medicines, leading to millions of deaths every year due to incurable infections. This disturbing scenario aside, it is my first visit to Saudi Arabia, and am looking forward to the next few days and knowing the country more.

 

[jw5]

OYK had an extensive discussion.

Ong Ye Kung​

17h ·
Met my host, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel today for an extensive discussion about developments in Saudi Arabia and health reforms.
Also visited Al-Balad, the historic heart of Jeddah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For centuries, the ancient town of Al-Balad served as the gateway for Muslim pilgrims arriving by sea from Africa and Asia, on their way to Mecca for the Haj. In Asia, Singapore offered a passage for Muslims from the region out of Southeast Asia to Al-Balad. Which is why the place of gathering in Singapore is called Haji Lane.

 

[jw5]

OYK turns 55 this year.

Ong Ye Kung​

Yesterday at 01:19 ·
Turning 55 this year. We all know what that means