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Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.
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OYK will be sharing plans to enhance our healthcare system. 
Next week, my colleagues and I will be sharing plans to enhance our healthcare system at MOH's Committee of Supply (COS) Debate.
This will also be my first COS as Health Minister. We will be announcing a significant initiative – a Healthier SG – building on the strong foundations laid by my predecessors.
Look out for my short video clip on the key highlights next week. #GuessWhereIAm?
#MOHCOS2022 #HealthierSG
Ong Ye Kung
13 hrs ·Next week, my colleagues and I will be sharing plans to enhance our healthcare system at MOH's Committee of Supply (COS) Debate.
This will also be my first COS as Health Minister. We will be announcing a significant initiative – a Healthier SG – building on the strong foundations laid by my predecessors.
Look out for my short video clip on the key highlights next week. #GuessWhereIAm?
#MOHCOS2022 #HealthierSG
OYK celebrates Women's Day! 
Today, we celebrate the progress, contributions, lives and passion of women of all ages and different walks of life.
Every single day, they carry out many important roles – as a leader, professional, worker, friend, wife, daughter, mother.
Some occupations are still dominated by either men or women, but they are changing. Nursing is an example. Engineering is another.
While I was Minister for Education, I saw more and more women becoming engineers, just as more men taking up nursing courses.
When I was in Transport, I met many female engineers playing their part in keeping Singapore moving. Now at MOH, I witness a gradual growth of male nurses in the workforce, fighting against the pandemic.
Here’s dedicating this year’s International Women’s Day to all the women in our lives – for your grit, determination, courage, strength and breakthroughs.
Happy #InternationalWomensDay.
Ong Ye Kung
13 hrs ·Today, we celebrate the progress, contributions, lives and passion of women of all ages and different walks of life.
Every single day, they carry out many important roles – as a leader, professional, worker, friend, wife, daughter, mother.
Some occupations are still dominated by either men or women, but they are changing. Nursing is an example. Engineering is another.
While I was Minister for Education, I saw more and more women becoming engineers, just as more men taking up nursing courses.
When I was in Transport, I met many female engineers playing their part in keeping Singapore moving. Now at MOH, I witness a gradual growth of male nurses in the workforce, fighting against the pandemic.
Here’s dedicating this year’s International Women’s Day to all the women in our lives – for your grit, determination, courage, strength and breakthroughs.
Happy #InternationalWomensDay.
OYK announces that Singapore will contribute money.
At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit, I announced that #Singapore will contribute US$15m over 5 years to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
COVID-19 has reminded us that because of our interconnectedness, we all share a common destiny. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
So we need a coordinated international response to a global crisis.
Every country, big or small, has a responsibility to invest sufficiently and collectively in global pandemic preparedness.
We cannot be sure when and how fast a new pandemic will emerge and spread, but we can and must try our best to stop it.
Ong Ye Kung
13 hrs ·At the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit, I announced that #Singapore will contribute US$15m over 5 years to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
COVID-19 has reminded us that because of our interconnectedness, we all share a common destiny. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
So we need a coordinated international response to a global crisis.
Every country, big or small, has a responsibility to invest sufficiently and collectively in global pandemic preparedness.
We cannot be sure when and how fast a new pandemic will emerge and spread, but we can and must try our best to stop it.
OYK announces reform of healthcare system.
Over the past decade, we have strengthened the capacity and capability of our healthcare system. Across 204 countries, #Singapore has the highest life expectancy at birth for both men and women.
But the health of our population is declining – driven by ageing society, and unhealthy lifestyles choices.
Unfortunately, when illnesses strike, they can exact a heavy toll on ourselves, our families, and the healthcare system.
To tackle these issues, I announced the #HealthierSG strategy in Parliament today. It is a major reform of our healthcare system over the next 10 years, focusing on prevention. Our family doctors will need to become the key anchor of the healthcare system.
Watch this video for a quick explanation of the Healthier SG strategy.
#MOHCOS2022
Ong Ye Kung
4 hrs ·Over the past decade, we have strengthened the capacity and capability of our healthcare system. Across 204 countries, #Singapore has the highest life expectancy at birth for both men and women.
But the health of our population is declining – driven by ageing society, and unhealthy lifestyles choices.
Unfortunately, when illnesses strike, they can exact a heavy toll on ourselves, our families, and the healthcare system.
To tackle these issues, I announced the #HealthierSG strategy in Parliament today. It is a major reform of our healthcare system over the next 10 years, focusing on prevention. Our family doctors will need to become the key anchor of the healthcare system.
Watch this video for a quick explanation of the Healthier SG strategy.
#MOHCOS2022
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Singapore will be contributing US$15 million (S$20.46 million) over the next five years to a global coalition set up to develop vaccines against future infectious disease threats.
The move is to support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which plays an indispensable role in the global health architecture, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a pre-recorded speech on Wednesday (March 9).
"Transnational issues such as research and development, and scaling up manufacturing and distribution capabilities and capacity for vaccines require increased collective financing and action," he said.
The minister's speech was telecast at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2022, which was jointly hosted in London by Cepi and the British government.
The summit aims to explore how the world can respond to the next pandemic by developing safe and effective vaccines within 100 days.
This goal is part of what Cepi is seeking to achieve with its five-year plan, which it announced last year, and is looking to raise US$3.5 billion to implement.
In his speech, Mr Ong said countries around the world are doing their best to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, including closures of borders, lockdowns and nationwide vaccination exercises, as well as unprecedented rapid development of vaccines and therapeutics.
"Meanwhile, trillions have been spent to prop up local economies and healthcare systems, even as the costs in human lives and ill health accumulate," he added.
He noted that the future development of the pandemic remains uncertain, but said a coordinated, multilateral international response is needed.
"We can never coordinate our actions as fast as a new variant will spread; but try we must," said the minister.
"It is therefore only good sound sense to invest sufficiently and collectively in global transnational pandemic preparedness capabilities. We must not let the common good deteriorate to become a tragedy of the commons."
He said all countries, whether large or small, are responsible for collectively rectifying the longstanding under-investment in pandemic preparedness.
"We strongly urge all countries to contribute towards our common goal of a strengthened global health system, and emerge stronger together from the pandemic," added Mr Ong.
S'pore to contribute $20.5m to support efforts by global coalition against future pandemics
SINGAPORE - Singapore will be contributing US$15 million (S$20.46 million) over the next five years to a global coalition set up to develop vaccines against future infectious disease threats.
The move is to support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which plays an indispensable role in the global health architecture, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a pre-recorded speech on Wednesday (March 9).
"Transnational issues such as research and development, and scaling up manufacturing and distribution capabilities and capacity for vaccines require increased collective financing and action," he said.
The minister's speech was telecast at the Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2022, which was jointly hosted in London by Cepi and the British government.
The summit aims to explore how the world can respond to the next pandemic by developing safe and effective vaccines within 100 days.
This goal is part of what Cepi is seeking to achieve with its five-year plan, which it announced last year, and is looking to raise US$3.5 billion to implement.
In his speech, Mr Ong said countries around the world are doing their best to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, including closures of borders, lockdowns and nationwide vaccination exercises, as well as unprecedented rapid development of vaccines and therapeutics.
"Meanwhile, trillions have been spent to prop up local economies and healthcare systems, even as the costs in human lives and ill health accumulate," he added.
He noted that the future development of the pandemic remains uncertain, but said a coordinated, multilateral international response is needed.
"We can never coordinate our actions as fast as a new variant will spread; but try we must," said the minister.
"It is therefore only good sound sense to invest sufficiently and collectively in global transnational pandemic preparedness capabilities. We must not let the common good deteriorate to become a tragedy of the commons."
He said all countries, whether large or small, are responsible for collectively rectifying the longstanding under-investment in pandemic preparedness.
"We strongly urge all countries to contribute towards our common goal of a strengthened global health system, and emerge stronger together from the pandemic," added Mr Ong.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Family doctors will play a key role as the nation shifts away from the traditional focus on illness-based hospital care to a more sustainable way of patient-centred preventive care that will focus on nipping diseases in the bud and keeping people healthy and out of hospital as much as possible.
Describing this as a major healthcare initiative called the Healthier SG strategy, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said it is important to move now.
Speaking during the debate on his ministry's budget, he noted that more are suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example.
This is happening as demand from a fast-ageing population will inevitably surge and healthcare expenditure is expected to triple in the coming decade to almost $27 billion in 2030.
Aside from age, Singaporeans young and old are getting less healthy generally, he pointed out.
As the population ages and people live longer, there may not be enough hospitals to feed the relentless demand at some point, particularly as many still see hospitals as the first resort the minute they need help with a chronic condition.
Getting a primary care doctor to lead the care for patients would help prevent diseases, as well as reduce or delay the likelihood of those with chronic conditions requiring hospital treatments. There are around 1,800 general practitioner (GP) clinics here.
To encourage people to focus on preventive care, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will study possibilities, including making recommended health screenings free or cost only a very nominal sum.
Mr Ong said: "Perhaps we can tap MediSave more for our care plan, or offer insurance premium discounts or vouchers if we diligently follow our care plans, or even better still, show good outcomes."
From next year, the MOH will be inviting each resident here to enrol with one GP or polyclinic doctor of their choice for all their care needs.
Mr Ong said: "After 10 years of foundation laying, plus a pandemic crisis, it is time for us to take the next big step. There is urgency to this because in the next 10 years, long after the Covid-19 dust has settled, we will have to tackle our biggest healthcare challenge since our nation began - the deteriorating health of the population."
So a person's one regular doctor will be the first point of contact when he needs help with a health issue.
GPs are nodes of trust, said Mr Ong. However, only three in five Singaporeans have a regular family doctor, he said.
"The other two tend to doctor-hop, go to doctor A for hypertension medicine, go to doctor B to get a medical certificate for cough and cold. So there is no one family doctor who knows our overall health condition and family health history well enough, to be able to see the link between different care episodes, even across different family members."
He said studies have shown that those who have a regular family doctor are generally healthier, and have fewer hospitalisation and emergency department visits.
Healthier SG involves regular, scheduled visits of at least once a year to a family doctor, said Mr Ong.
When we have a major illness, the doctor often refers us to one or more specialists or therapists, he said.
"But in a preventive care plan, the family doctor may refer us to a qigong class, to a brisk walking group, or a community farming club."
Having a regular family doctor also means there is someone to provide continuous care when a patient with more complex needs is discharged from hospital and referred back to the GP, for instance.
Mr Ong said MOH will probably start with people in their 40s and above because that is when chronic illnesses may start to set in.
The Government-funded initiative is a "sea change" in healthcare, said Adjunct Associate Professor Tan Tze Lee, president of the College of Family Physicians, Singapore.
"You're signing up with a GP or a polyclinic doctor to look after you, and you form a relationship with your doctor," he said. Once you settle on a doctor, you'll have to commit to see him or her for a period of time, for instance, a year, he added.
At a consultation, the doctor may discuss lifestyle changes that will help the patient manage his cholesterol levels or other issues.
Singapore has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, but one can spend his or her later years in bad health, said Prof Tan. The change will help to lengthen residents' healthspan, which is the number of years spent in good health.
This idea of having a chosen GP as the first contact has been around for decades. It is done in other countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Sweden, said Prof Tan.
The question is whether GPs here can provide this service or not, said Prof Tan who, as a family physician, has patients whom he has seen for 20 years. "And I think we can, if you look at how the GPs have stepped up to help fight Covid-19."
Mr Ong said the GP enrolment programme will be coordinated by the three healthcare clusters, each of which will look after up to 1.5 million residents. The clusters will partner various agencies such as the Health Promotion Board and Sport Singapore to help residents keep healthy.
This geographical approach will ensure that residents can get care near their homes. However, residents are free to enrol with a GP who is located far from their home, or make changes, for instance, when they move house.
MOH will provide the healthcare clusters with a pre-determined fee for every resident living in the region that they are looking after, Mr Ong said. This funding shift - from the current workload-based model - will give hospitals a natural incentive to try to keep residents healthy through preventive care.
For the Healthier SG strategy to succeed, MOH will support the GP clinics' capabilities, such as in telemedicine and IT systems. It will also be beefing up the workforce in the primary and community care sectors over the next few years, said Mr Ong.
In the coming months, it will consult all stakeholders on developing a primary care package that people will participate in as well as adhere to, he added. Details for this major strategy will be provided in a White Paper in the second half of the year.
Budget debate: Push to get Singapore residents paired with GPs from 2023
SINGAPORE - Family doctors will play a key role as the nation shifts away from the traditional focus on illness-based hospital care to a more sustainable way of patient-centred preventive care that will focus on nipping diseases in the bud and keeping people healthy and out of hospital as much as possible.
Describing this as a major healthcare initiative called the Healthier SG strategy, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said it is important to move now.
Speaking during the debate on his ministry's budget, he noted that more are suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, for example.
This is happening as demand from a fast-ageing population will inevitably surge and healthcare expenditure is expected to triple in the coming decade to almost $27 billion in 2030.
Aside from age, Singaporeans young and old are getting less healthy generally, he pointed out.
As the population ages and people live longer, there may not be enough hospitals to feed the relentless demand at some point, particularly as many still see hospitals as the first resort the minute they need help with a chronic condition.
Getting a primary care doctor to lead the care for patients would help prevent diseases, as well as reduce or delay the likelihood of those with chronic conditions requiring hospital treatments. There are around 1,800 general practitioner (GP) clinics here.
To encourage people to focus on preventive care, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will study possibilities, including making recommended health screenings free or cost only a very nominal sum.
Mr Ong said: "Perhaps we can tap MediSave more for our care plan, or offer insurance premium discounts or vouchers if we diligently follow our care plans, or even better still, show good outcomes."
From next year, the MOH will be inviting each resident here to enrol with one GP or polyclinic doctor of their choice for all their care needs.
Mr Ong said: "After 10 years of foundation laying, plus a pandemic crisis, it is time for us to take the next big step. There is urgency to this because in the next 10 years, long after the Covid-19 dust has settled, we will have to tackle our biggest healthcare challenge since our nation began - the deteriorating health of the population."
So a person's one regular doctor will be the first point of contact when he needs help with a health issue.
GPs are nodes of trust, said Mr Ong. However, only three in five Singaporeans have a regular family doctor, he said.
"The other two tend to doctor-hop, go to doctor A for hypertension medicine, go to doctor B to get a medical certificate for cough and cold. So there is no one family doctor who knows our overall health condition and family health history well enough, to be able to see the link between different care episodes, even across different family members."
He said studies have shown that those who have a regular family doctor are generally healthier, and have fewer hospitalisation and emergency department visits.
Healthier SG involves regular, scheduled visits of at least once a year to a family doctor, said Mr Ong.
When we have a major illness, the doctor often refers us to one or more specialists or therapists, he said.
"But in a preventive care plan, the family doctor may refer us to a qigong class, to a brisk walking group, or a community farming club."
Having a regular family doctor also means there is someone to provide continuous care when a patient with more complex needs is discharged from hospital and referred back to the GP, for instance.
Mr Ong said MOH will probably start with people in their 40s and above because that is when chronic illnesses may start to set in.
The Government-funded initiative is a "sea change" in healthcare, said Adjunct Associate Professor Tan Tze Lee, president of the College of Family Physicians, Singapore.
"You're signing up with a GP or a polyclinic doctor to look after you, and you form a relationship with your doctor," he said. Once you settle on a doctor, you'll have to commit to see him or her for a period of time, for instance, a year, he added.
At a consultation, the doctor may discuss lifestyle changes that will help the patient manage his cholesterol levels or other issues.
Singapore has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, but one can spend his or her later years in bad health, said Prof Tan. The change will help to lengthen residents' healthspan, which is the number of years spent in good health.
This idea of having a chosen GP as the first contact has been around for decades. It is done in other countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Sweden, said Prof Tan.
The question is whether GPs here can provide this service or not, said Prof Tan who, as a family physician, has patients whom he has seen for 20 years. "And I think we can, if you look at how the GPs have stepped up to help fight Covid-19."
Mr Ong said the GP enrolment programme will be coordinated by the three healthcare clusters, each of which will look after up to 1.5 million residents. The clusters will partner various agencies such as the Health Promotion Board and Sport Singapore to help residents keep healthy.
This geographical approach will ensure that residents can get care near their homes. However, residents are free to enrol with a GP who is located far from their home, or make changes, for instance, when they move house.
MOH will provide the healthcare clusters with a pre-determined fee for every resident living in the region that they are looking after, Mr Ong said. This funding shift - from the current workload-based model - will give hospitals a natural incentive to try to keep residents healthy through preventive care.
For the Healthier SG strategy to succeed, MOH will support the GP clinics' capabilities, such as in telemedicine and IT systems. It will also be beefing up the workforce in the primary and community care sectors over the next few years, said Mr Ong.
In the coming months, it will consult all stakeholders on developing a primary care package that people will participate in as well as adhere to, he added. Details for this major strategy will be provided in a White Paper in the second half of the year.
OYK has a nice story.
A nice story of Mdm Foo and her family doctor, Dr Nelson Wee.
#HealthierSG
Ong Ye Kung
8 hrs ·A nice story of Mdm Foo and her family doctor, Dr Nelson Wee.
#HealthierSG
from msn.com:
SINGAPORE — Some 90 per cent of Singapore's daily COVID-19 cases are of the more infectious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (11 March).
But the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce co-chair noted during a virtual press conference that there are "good indications" that the Omicron wave has peaked, and is subsiding, "albeit slowly".
On Thursday, Singapore recorded a total of 901,758 cases with 16,165 new infections, three weeks after it crossed the half-million mark. Over the last 28 days, 457,051 cases were reported, of whom 99.7 per cent had no or mild symptoms.
Based on the seven-day moving average of local cases, the number peaked at about 18,300 on 26 February, Ong said, with numbers coming down steadily since to about 16,300 as of Thursday.
If the current weekly infection growth rate – or ratio of community cases for the past week over the week before – remains at 0.93, the number will be halved in four to five weeks, he said.
"We expect the week-on-week ratio to reduce further in the coming days. Reproduction rate is about 1.0 now. We hope this reduction in daily caseload will accelerate in the coming days," Ong added.
The Ministry of Health (MOH)'s Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak said noted that all COVID-19 cases that are treated in Singapore are of the Omicron variant.
Singapore's overall experience with Omicron "echoes that in other countries" where many of those infected only suffered mild symptoms and have made uneventful recoveries, he added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on 22 February said that the Omicron variant of concern is currently the dominant variant circulating globally, accounting for nearly all sequences reported to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).
"At a global level, the proportion of reported sequences designated BA.2 has been increasing relative to BA.1 in recent weeks, however the global circulation of all variants is reportedly declining," the WHO added.
Initial data has suggested that the BA.2 variant appears inherently more transmissible than BA.1 but has no significant difference in clinical outcomes.
The BA.2 sub-variant is often considered stealthy because it is missing characteristics that are needed for detection in PCR tests and its differentiation from earlier variants, such as Delta. As such, it was able to escape detection previously.
MOH previously said that as of 25 January, 198 cases of the sub-variant – 48 local and 150 imported – were detected here.
90% of COVID daily cases in Singapore of BA.2 Omicron subvariant: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — Some 90 per cent of Singapore's daily COVID-19 cases are of the more infectious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (11 March).
But the COVID-19 multi-ministry taskforce co-chair noted during a virtual press conference that there are "good indications" that the Omicron wave has peaked, and is subsiding, "albeit slowly".
On Thursday, Singapore recorded a total of 901,758 cases with 16,165 new infections, three weeks after it crossed the half-million mark. Over the last 28 days, 457,051 cases were reported, of whom 99.7 per cent had no or mild symptoms.
Based on the seven-day moving average of local cases, the number peaked at about 18,300 on 26 February, Ong said, with numbers coming down steadily since to about 16,300 as of Thursday.
If the current weekly infection growth rate – or ratio of community cases for the past week over the week before – remains at 0.93, the number will be halved in four to five weeks, he said.
"We expect the week-on-week ratio to reduce further in the coming days. Reproduction rate is about 1.0 now. We hope this reduction in daily caseload will accelerate in the coming days," Ong added.
The Ministry of Health (MOH)'s Director of Medical Services Kenneth Mak said noted that all COVID-19 cases that are treated in Singapore are of the Omicron variant.
Singapore's overall experience with Omicron "echoes that in other countries" where many of those infected only suffered mild symptoms and have made uneventful recoveries, he added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on 22 February said that the Omicron variant of concern is currently the dominant variant circulating globally, accounting for nearly all sequences reported to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).
"At a global level, the proportion of reported sequences designated BA.2 has been increasing relative to BA.1 in recent weeks, however the global circulation of all variants is reportedly declining," the WHO added.
Initial data has suggested that the BA.2 variant appears inherently more transmissible than BA.1 but has no significant difference in clinical outcomes.
The BA.2 sub-variant is often considered stealthy because it is missing characteristics that are needed for detection in PCR tests and its differentiation from earlier variants, such as Delta. As such, it was able to escape detection previously.
MOH previously said that as of 25 January, 198 cases of the sub-variant – 48 local and 150 imported – were detected here.
OYK has a nice story.
Ong Ye Kung
8 hrs ·
A nice story of Mdm Foo and her family doctor, Dr Nelson Wee.
#HealthierSG
Beware of these lanjiao lang who give interview time to the establishment. Patient, doctor, any other profession.
OYK encourages boosters.
From tomorrow, 14 March, those aged 12 to 17 years who have completed their primary vaccination series more than 270 days ago will need a #booster dose to maintain their vaccination status.
This week, close to 17,000 aged 12 to 17 have taken their booster dose.
Only 130 eligible individuals in this group have yet to make their booster dose appointments. Many are overseas.
Get your booster soon – it protects you and your loved ones. You can now walk in to a vaccination centre from Mondays to Thursdays before 7.00pm.
Ong Ye Kung
2 hrs ·From tomorrow, 14 March, those aged 12 to 17 years who have completed their primary vaccination series more than 270 days ago will need a #booster dose to maintain their vaccination status.
This week, close to 17,000 aged 12 to 17 have taken their booster dose.
Only 130 eligible individuals in this group have yet to make their booster dose appointments. Many are overseas.
Get your booster soon – it protects you and your loved ones. You can now walk in to a vaccination centre from Mondays to Thursdays before 7.00pm.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - He is now the health minister - but in his younger days, Mr Ong Ye Kung did not take good care of his health and ended up with high cholesterol levels.
He shared his personal journey in Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget on Wednesday (March 9).
"Many doctors whom I have spoken to have always wondered: How did a patient become so stricken with chronic illnesses? Why didn't he make lifestyle adjustments when he was younger? Why did he leave it till too late?
"I can relate to the inaction," he said.
Mr Ong, who is now in his 50s, added that when he was in his 30s and 40s, he did not feel the need to take care of his health.
When a friend of his, who was a doctor, asked him to go for a health screening, it turned out that he had high levels of cholesterol. Further tests revealed a very small calcium deposit in one of the arteries in his heart.
"On his advice, I started taking some medication and adjusted my diet... I had to cut down chilli crabs, prawns... Eat in moderation, certainly not deprivation," he said.
Mr Ong added that these days, his readings are fine.
"More importantly, because of early intervention, I have probably averted a major heart bypass surgery when I become old, or worse, a heart attack that may kill me and distress my family and my loved ones."
He noted that while medical technology and heroics in the operating theatre are an important part of better healthcare, good health is more likely to come from "an accumulation of the humdrum and the mundane".
Mr Ong said it is more important to maintain health rather than treat sickness, and such measures must be taken early, when the person is still healthy.
"It must identify the risk factors in our lives that will erode our health slowly and quietly and then address these factors. It must be done in homes and community, not in hospitals and clinics," he added.
Mr Ong said such a strategy is best centred on family doctors, who must become the most important anchor of the healthcare system.
"I have been lucky to have a highly trained and well-meaning doctor friend who nagged me and helped me. We hope everyone will have such a friend too - a family doctor to advise and nag us to do what is right for our long-term health and our family.
"We want to make it easier and affordable for everyone to stay healthy," he added.
Budget debate: Ong Ye Kung once neglected health and had high cholesterol
SINGAPORE - He is now the health minister - but in his younger days, Mr Ong Ye Kung did not take good care of his health and ended up with high cholesterol levels.
He shared his personal journey in Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget on Wednesday (March 9).
"Many doctors whom I have spoken to have always wondered: How did a patient become so stricken with chronic illnesses? Why didn't he make lifestyle adjustments when he was younger? Why did he leave it till too late?
"I can relate to the inaction," he said.
Mr Ong, who is now in his 50s, added that when he was in his 30s and 40s, he did not feel the need to take care of his health.
When a friend of his, who was a doctor, asked him to go for a health screening, it turned out that he had high levels of cholesterol. Further tests revealed a very small calcium deposit in one of the arteries in his heart.
"On his advice, I started taking some medication and adjusted my diet... I had to cut down chilli crabs, prawns... Eat in moderation, certainly not deprivation," he said.
Mr Ong added that these days, his readings are fine.
"More importantly, because of early intervention, I have probably averted a major heart bypass surgery when I become old, or worse, a heart attack that may kill me and distress my family and my loved ones."
He noted that while medical technology and heroics in the operating theatre are an important part of better healthcare, good health is more likely to come from "an accumulation of the humdrum and the mundane".
Mr Ong said it is more important to maintain health rather than treat sickness, and such measures must be taken early, when the person is still healthy.
"It must identify the risk factors in our lives that will erode our health slowly and quietly and then address these factors. It must be done in homes and community, not in hospitals and clinics," he added.
Mr Ong said such a strategy is best centred on family doctors, who must become the most important anchor of the healthcare system.
"I have been lucky to have a highly trained and well-meaning doctor friend who nagged me and helped me. We hope everyone will have such a friend too - a family doctor to advise and nag us to do what is right for our long-term health and our family.
"We want to make it easier and affordable for everyone to stay healthy," he added.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The Omicron wave has peaked and infection numbers are coming down, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Wednesday (March 9).
Does this mean that the current measures to curb Covid-19 will be eased soon?
Some experts say it's better to wait a bit longer, till the downward trend is fully established, before relaxing them. Others say every delay comes with a cost to the people and the nation.
Professor Leo Yee Sin, executive director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, is a strong advocate of waiting a bit longer, as she fears relaxing measures too soon could result in rising infections.
"Any relaxation of preventive measures will likely see a rebound of cases," she said.
The current situation is still dynamic, and Singapore is "at the very early stage of an observed declining pattern", Prof Leo said. It would be wise to continue observing the situation for a while more before deciding on the next course of action, she added.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an infectious diseases expert at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, agrees that caution is called for.
He said: "I think it is important to note that this current peak is based on the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Once they are relaxed, especially if they are relaxed abruptly, it is possible that the numbers and infection growth rate will rise again."
That was what happened in England when all Covid-19 domestic rules were relaxed on Feb 24, he said. Daily new infections had fallen to below 25,000 on Feb 27, only to top 67,000 on Wednesday (March 9).
His colleague from the school, Associate Professor Alex Cook, who is the vice-dean of research, expects infection numbers to continue the downward trend "in the absence of a new variant or an unexpectedly early relaxation of measures".
He added: "There's a good case to wait for the situation in the hospitals to improve before easing measures, but that point could be as soon as the end of the month or the middle of April."
Prof Cook said it is becoming increasingly harder for the virus to spread as more people have been infected recently. The official figure for infections here stands at 885,593 cases.
Thus, he doesn't think it likely for cases to soar. But he said given how stretched healthcare workers are, "even a small rise caused by immediate relaxation of measures would be unwelcome for that reason".
However, Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH), and Associate Professor Jeremy Lim of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, a surgeon trained in public health, both feel delaying the easing of measures also has repercussions.
Prof Fisher said opinions within his hospital vary, from those who want restrictions to continue in case that is what is keeping numbers down - and he admits, hospital staff are tired - to surgeons who want to see their operating rooms busy again, and patients who want their conditions treated instead of delayed.
However, he felt that there are restrictions that can be eased that would not cause a major increase in infections, but which could have significant social and economic benefit.
These include not requiring masks outdoors, and increasing the size of gatherings. But restrictions should remain in place for high-risk activities, such as large indoor gatherings, he said.
Prof Fisher added: "Removing the Vaccinated Travel Lane system and pre/ post flight testing would see a wonderful return for this industry and the livelihoods of those employed."
Added Prof Lim: "Transport Minister S. Iswaran speaks of Singapore now having the 'confidence and opportunity to move decisively' (in Parliament on March 9), but I'm afraid others have moved ahead of us. There is a heavy economic and social price to every day we wait and play it safer."
However, Prof Cook, who is also an expert in infectious disease modelling, thinks people here will not need to wait too long for measures to ease.
It all depends on whether the epidemic wave falls the way we think it will, he said. "If it does, we could be in position not just to ease measures but to remove most if not all of them."
This could be as soon as the end of this month.
Some experts fear spike in Covid-19 cases if curbs are eased too soon, others are more bullish
SINGAPORE - The Omicron wave has peaked and infection numbers are coming down, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Wednesday (March 9).
Does this mean that the current measures to curb Covid-19 will be eased soon?
Some experts say it's better to wait a bit longer, till the downward trend is fully established, before relaxing them. Others say every delay comes with a cost to the people and the nation.
Professor Leo Yee Sin, executive director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, is a strong advocate of waiting a bit longer, as she fears relaxing measures too soon could result in rising infections.
"Any relaxation of preventive measures will likely see a rebound of cases," she said.
The current situation is still dynamic, and Singapore is "at the very early stage of an observed declining pattern", Prof Leo said. It would be wise to continue observing the situation for a while more before deciding on the next course of action, she added.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an infectious diseases expert at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, agrees that caution is called for.
He said: "I think it is important to note that this current peak is based on the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Once they are relaxed, especially if they are relaxed abruptly, it is possible that the numbers and infection growth rate will rise again."
That was what happened in England when all Covid-19 domestic rules were relaxed on Feb 24, he said. Daily new infections had fallen to below 25,000 on Feb 27, only to top 67,000 on Wednesday (March 9).
His colleague from the school, Associate Professor Alex Cook, who is the vice-dean of research, expects infection numbers to continue the downward trend "in the absence of a new variant or an unexpectedly early relaxation of measures".
He added: "There's a good case to wait for the situation in the hospitals to improve before easing measures, but that point could be as soon as the end of the month or the middle of April."
Prof Cook said it is becoming increasingly harder for the virus to spread as more people have been infected recently. The official figure for infections here stands at 885,593 cases.
Thus, he doesn't think it likely for cases to soar. But he said given how stretched healthcare workers are, "even a small rise caused by immediate relaxation of measures would be unwelcome for that reason".
However, Professor Dale Fisher, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University Hospital (NUH), and Associate Professor Jeremy Lim of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, a surgeon trained in public health, both feel delaying the easing of measures also has repercussions.
Prof Fisher said opinions within his hospital vary, from those who want restrictions to continue in case that is what is keeping numbers down - and he admits, hospital staff are tired - to surgeons who want to see their operating rooms busy again, and patients who want their conditions treated instead of delayed.
However, he felt that there are restrictions that can be eased that would not cause a major increase in infections, but which could have significant social and economic benefit.
These include not requiring masks outdoors, and increasing the size of gatherings. But restrictions should remain in place for high-risk activities, such as large indoor gatherings, he said.
Prof Fisher added: "Removing the Vaccinated Travel Lane system and pre/ post flight testing would see a wonderful return for this industry and the livelihoods of those employed."
Added Prof Lim: "Transport Minister S. Iswaran speaks of Singapore now having the 'confidence and opportunity to move decisively' (in Parliament on March 9), but I'm afraid others have moved ahead of us. There is a heavy economic and social price to every day we wait and play it safer."
However, Prof Cook, who is also an expert in infectious disease modelling, thinks people here will not need to wait too long for measures to ease.
It all depends on whether the epidemic wave falls the way we think it will, he said. "If it does, we could be in position not just to ease measures but to remove most if not all of them."
This could be as soon as the end of this month.
OYK is sad that Richard passed away. 
I learnt with a heavy heart that Mr Richard Magnus passed away this morning. My condolences to his family and loved ones for their sudden loss.
He is a man whom I have great respect for. He always carried himself with such grace and generosity. He had a life well-lived, devoted to making a difference to others. His passing is an immense loss to all of us.
I first worked with him when I was in Transport, and Richard was the Chairman of the Public Transport Council, which has the unenviable job of recommending public transport fare changes. I could always count on him to lead the Council to recommend what was right – striking that difficult balance between transport fares and transport cost. And he always had a heart for commuters.
As Health Minister, our paths once again crossed as Richard was the Chairman of the Bioethics Advisory Committee. I just met him last week, and we had a good discussion on how ethics must guide our policies in two critical areas – R&D that uses genetic information to make breakthroughs in medical science, and public policy surrounding the use of cell, tissue and genetic therapy. Richard was at the frontier of policy thinking in healthcare.
Richard was conferred the Distinguished Service Order at last year’s National Day Awards.
He will be sorely missed as a colleague, friend and teacher.
Ong Ye Kung
4 hrs ·I learnt with a heavy heart that Mr Richard Magnus passed away this morning. My condolences to his family and loved ones for their sudden loss.
He is a man whom I have great respect for. He always carried himself with such grace and generosity. He had a life well-lived, devoted to making a difference to others. His passing is an immense loss to all of us.
I first worked with him when I was in Transport, and Richard was the Chairman of the Public Transport Council, which has the unenviable job of recommending public transport fare changes. I could always count on him to lead the Council to recommend what was right – striking that difficult balance between transport fares and transport cost. And he always had a heart for commuters.
As Health Minister, our paths once again crossed as Richard was the Chairman of the Bioethics Advisory Committee. I just met him last week, and we had a good discussion on how ethics must guide our policies in two critical areas – R&D that uses genetic information to make breakthroughs in medical science, and public policy surrounding the use of cell, tissue and genetic therapy. Richard was at the frontier of policy thinking in healthcare.
Richard was conferred the Distinguished Service Order at last year’s National Day Awards.
He will be sorely missed as a colleague, friend and teacher.
OYK likes to look at his colleagues' expressions. 
Today, the streamlined Safe Management Measures (SMM 1-5) come into force.
At MOH, we held our weekly staff meeting in the morning. It was still in hybrid format – with half the senior staff in the meeting room, and the other half logged on via Skype.
For those in the room, we could finally be seated close to one another, around a table. Our masks need to be on, but we could hear each other clearly, look at one another’s expression (through the eyes).
Many other little things in life can now resume. You can take a proper selfie without everyone trying to stand far apart; you can sit next to your friend on a park bench; you can pack lunch to eat with a colleague in the office pantry. And we can start to play team sports.
But the key measures that help manage the pandemic – masking, group size control, vaccinations – remain firmly in place.
Nevertheless, today marks an important psychological shift in this long fight against COVID-19. As cases continue to fall and the situation in hospitals gradually improves, normal life will resume further.
Ong Ye Kung
7 hrs ·Today, the streamlined Safe Management Measures (SMM 1-5) come into force.
At MOH, we held our weekly staff meeting in the morning. It was still in hybrid format – with half the senior staff in the meeting room, and the other half logged on via Skype.
For those in the room, we could finally be seated close to one another, around a table. Our masks need to be on, but we could hear each other clearly, look at one another’s expression (through the eyes).
Many other little things in life can now resume. You can take a proper selfie without everyone trying to stand far apart; you can sit next to your friend on a park bench; you can pack lunch to eat with a colleague in the office pantry. And we can start to play team sports.
But the key measures that help manage the pandemic – masking, group size control, vaccinations – remain firmly in place.
Nevertheless, today marks an important psychological shift in this long fight against COVID-19. As cases continue to fall and the situation in hospitals gradually improves, normal life will resume further.
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