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

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Wanted: Men aged 30 to 40 for national study to map DNA of 100,000 Singaporeans​

When completed, the SG100K study will create one of the Republic’s biggest research data sets. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Ang Qing
UPDATED

17 DEC 2022, 12:19 AM SGT

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SINGAPORE – Men aged 30 to 40 are needed for Singapore’s quest to map the DNA of 100,000 Singaporeans as part of research to find new ways of predicting and preventing diseases here and in Asia.
Making this call on Friday after the official launch of the study, its lead investigator, Professor John Chambers of Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), said he has observed that working adults below 40, particularly men, find it difficult to make time for the study. It involves a check-up that lasts an average of about five hours.
When completed, the SG100K study will create one of the Republic’s biggest research data sets, which will yield insights over the next three decades into the genetic basis for diseases in Singaporeans.

Since recruitment for the study began in January, nearly 20,000 people have signed up, said Prof Chambers, who is also chief scientific officer at Precision Health Research, Singapore.
Another 50,000 participants have been drawn from four existing cohort studies under LKCMedicine, National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, the Singapore Eye Research Institute, the Singapore National Eye Centre and the National Heart Centre Singapore.
Prof Chambers said: “So, for this work to be relevant to everyone in Singapore, it is very important that we reach out and include all segments of Singapore society – the rich, the poor, the young, the old, men and women and also people of different social and cultural backgrounds.”


Over the next three years, researchers will analyse the whole genomes of 100,000 Singaporeans aged 30 to 84, and other health data, to understand the social, environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors associated with diseases prevalent in Singapore and Asia.


Most knowledge of human health and diseases stems from the West, and special features of the Asian genome, lifestyle, environmental issues and predisposition to diseases are not entirely clear, said NTU’s senior vice-president of health and life sciences and LKCMedicine’s dean, Professor Joseph Sung.
With Malays and Indians comprising 40 per cent of participants, the project is slated to become one of Asia’s leading reference genome databases because Singapore’s ethnic diversity captures more than 80 per cent of Asia’s diversity.
Over the next two years, the institutions will work to recruit about 30,000 people, NTU said in a statement. Participants in the study will go for a health check-up that involves collecting blood samples, measuring blood pressure, and collecting information on physical fitness, lung function, body composition, skeletal health and cognitive performance, as well as glucose and cholesterol levels.


The study is open to Singaporeans and permanent residents of all ethnicities, aged 30 to 84, including people with pre-existing conditions. Each participant will receive a $50 token of appreciation after the check-up.
Over the course of the study, SG100K participants will be monitored for their long-term health outcomes through a combination of approaches, including electronic medical records, disease registries and invitations for further follow-up.
Among those who have volunteered are Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam, who had their blood and skin samples taken on Friday.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung having his blood sample taken by research assistant Halimah Ibrahim at the launch of SG100K study. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam also volunteered for the SG100K study. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Speaking at the launch, Mr Ong said knowledge from the multi-ethnic study will enable and turbocharge the development of precision medicine in Singapore.
This will enable clinicians to customise medication and treatment according to the genetic make-up of patients and identify those at higher risk of developing diseases, he said.
At the same time, the profound and potentially revolutionary implications of precision medicine mean that Singapore will need to take action now, he added, citing, among issues, the need to make preventive care accessible to all and finance healthcare.
He said: “Hence, for us to fully benefit from precision medicine, much work needs to be done in clinical development, ascertainment of cost and medical effectiveness, healthcare financing policies, legislation and determining what is encouraged, allowed and proscribed.
“And these issues will cut across clinical, economic and moral considerations. We will need a great deal of study, consultation and engagement with policymakers, physicians, economists, regulatory bodies, bioethicists, the public and also the patients.”
Those interested to sign up for the study can find out more details from this website.

 

[jw5]

OYK went to Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre for coffee.

Ong Ye Kung​

11 h ·
Long awaited Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre is opened - first hawker centre in Sembawang town in almost 30 years. My fellow MPs and I had to ‘tarik’ a hot flask of coffee to mark its opening.
The center serves a wide variety of food, from traditional hawker fare to more ‘modern’ ones like Korean, Mexican and Middle East cuisines. The space is green and airy, one of the most pleasant hawker center environments I have experienced. I met several young hawker entrepreneurs, starting out business for the first time. It also has many new features, like calorie count indications on the menu and an electronic system to ‘belanja a meal’ to less fortunate members of the community.
Hawker centres are an institution in Singapore. It is our heritage and also part of our future. I am really happy that Sembawang is now part of the story.
#makesembawangspecial

 

[jw5]

OYK watches a tall man pose with 5 short women and a baby, all unmasked.

 

[jw5]

OYK poses with an unmasked family.

 

[jw5]

OYK poses with a few unmasked people.

 

[jw5]

OYK poses with a few masked hawkers.

 

[jw5]

OYK poses with more masked hawkers.

 

[jw5]

OYK discusses the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2021.

Ong Ye Kung​

4 h ·
Ministry of Health, Singapore released the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2021 today.
Here are some key take-aways:

increase in uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations amongst seniors

more were willing to seek professional help on mental health

fewer residents met the recommended level of physical activity likely due to the pandemic

drop in participation in health screening, also likely due to the COVID-19
With an ageing population, we will expect physical activities to decline, because the data is not age-adjusted.
However, having gone through COVID-19, and the advent of #HealthierSG, we hope to counter the decline, as we encourage Singaporeans to stay active and healthier.
We also hope to see vaccinations and health screening to go up. The former is seeing a decisive uptick, probably due to higher awareness of the benefits of vaccinations due to the pandemic, while the latter took a hit due to COVID-19 social restrictions.
As we strive for a Healthier SG, this annual national survey will be an important dipstick of where we are.
The full NPHS 2021 report is available at https://go.gov.sg/moh-nphs2021.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

New hawker centre is first such facility in Sembawang in 30 years​

1 of 2

Patrons at the newly opened Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, on Dec 17, 2022. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Adeline Tan
UPDATED

17 DEC 2022, 7:07 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE – After a close to three-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre opened on Saturday, marking it the first such facility in Sembawang in about 30 years.
The site was part of Chong Pang Village, which used to house a wet market and hawker centre and was demolished in the 1980s.
Speaking at the hawker centre on Saturday, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, who is also an MP for Sembawang GRC, said: “There are many interesting features in this hawker centre. Cost of living is always an issue, and with the hawker centre now, we can generally lower the food prices for residents.”

The 800-seat facility has 44 stalls, with only one vacant. Four sell halal food, another four Indian fare, and the rest a mix of Asian items. About 10 per cent of the stalls are run by Sembawang residents.
On Saturday morning, most of the tables were taken up and long queues formed at some stalls.
Residents said the hawker centre is a long-awaited addition to the community. For Mr Joshua Batula, a 27-year-old software engineer, it is a five-minute walk from his home and gives him more food choices.


“It has been quite a wait, and residents here were eagerly expecting this to open. Before this, if I wanted hawker food, there was only one similar foodcourt nearby.


“The layout here is also quite special because it is close to the park connector and other sports facilities, which is good for me because I play sports.”
Ms Kalin Tan, 52, a Sembawang resident of more than 30 years, said: “I came today because I heard it was the opening, and I wanted to look around. The food is not bad although (the price) is a bit on the higher side.”
Ms Tan, who is self-employed, previously had to go to Chong Pang Market and Food Centre in Yishun to get hawker food.


The new hawker centre is part of the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub, which will have other facilities such as a multipurpose hall, swimming complex and polyclinic.
The pools and a gym are expected to be ready in the first half of 2023 while the multipurpose hall is already open. The roll-out dates for the other facilities have not yet been announced.

The new hawker centre is part of the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Other features of the hawker centre include a mobile app that allows patrons to place orders and pay as well as receive a notification to collect their food when it is ready.
Points earned through the app can be used to offset subsequent purchases. From 2023, a Pay-It-Forward programme will enable people to buy meals for less fortunate groups.
There is also an in-house nutritionist to ensure that food options remain as healthy as possible, with the calorie count displayed next to each food item on the menu.


Mr Ong acknowledged that some of the food prices are slightly higher, especially for more creative dishes from younger entrepreneurs that may require more effort.
“The important thing is to have choices. We have some that are more expensive, and some that are more traditional and simpler that cost less,” he said, adding that there are discount programmes as well.
Each cooked food stall has two main food items priced under $3.50, and there is a 10 per cent discount off regular-priced purchases at all stalls for Community Health Assist Scheme as well as Pioneer and Merdeka Generation cardholders.


Saturday’s healthy customer traffic was a welcome sight for stall operators such as Mr Muhammad Syarafuddin who had relocated from Block 101 Yishun Avenue 5, where he sold putu piring, a traditional Malay snack.
He has expanded his menu to offer burgers, spaghetti and other Western foods at his new stall, bege.rack.
He said: “We thought this place was good – it is new and there are sports facilities, so there will be better traffic. It is still early, so it is hard to tell how business will be, but hopefully, it will all go well.”

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

The promise that precision medicine offers Singapore​

Ong Ye Kung

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung launched the SG100K study by NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine on Dec 16, 2022. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
UPDATED

19 DEC 2022, 11:39 AM SGT

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The SG100K genetic study is a step in a potentially revolutionary field. But as with all tech breakthroughs, there are ethical and other dilemmas that need attention as well, said Singapore’s Health Minister at last week’s official launch of the research project. Here are edited excerpts of his speech.
In 1990, the Human Genome Project generated the first sequence of the human genome, which cost many billions of dollars and took many years. Now, with a small blood sample, it can be done in a few hours on a laptop, costing a few hundred dollars. That is how far and how fast genomics science has progressed.
Under SG100K, with the blueprints of 100,000 participants, the researchers will monitor and follow their health and well-being through the years. Researchers will cross-reference disease registries, and to health, social and environmental records.

Governments around the world – including the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland and Japan – have initiated similar studies. While their studies have a larger base of participants, SG100K took a multi-ethnic approach, involving population segments that may have been under-represented in previous studies in other countries.
This will give scientists a deep understanding, in an Asian context, of the interactions between nature – the genome – and nurture – social and environmental conditions and factors.

Implications for healthcare​

What are the implications of that knowledge, especially for healthcare? In short, it will enable and turbocharge the development of precision medicine.


Let me give a layman’s explanation.

When we want to repair a machine or maintain a building, having a full blueprint of the subject makes a huge difference to the engineer or technician. They will know exactly where to find the problem and fix it. Similarly, if an IT specialist knows the source code of a computer virus that is causing a lot of problems, they can zoom in to the specific lines of source code to neutralise it. That is the value of a blueprint.
In precision medicine, with this human blueprint in hand, we can fix diseases in very precise ways, at their roots, and even customise treatment and care for patients. Let me give a couple of examples of what is possible, starting with targeted and optimised disease treatment.
On average, only about one in four patients diagnosed with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease responds to medication that is currently available. For many other common diseases including diabetes, irregular heartbeat and asthma, the corresponding figure is in the range of 50 per cent to 75 per cent.


This means that while patients may be given the same treatment, not all will experience the same expected benefits, and it must be so because every human being is different.
We all have different blueprints. Precision medicine enables clinicians to move beyond this “one size fits all” approach to medication and treatment. If the clinician knows the genetic make-up of the patient, he or she can potentially understand which drugs work better for that particular patient.
Precision medicine can be used to identify individuals who are at higher risk of developing certain diseases. This provides the basis for early preventive interventions.
For example, studies showed that familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition that results in very high cholesterol levels, can lead to higher risk of heart attacks, even at a young age. Hence in the UK, first-degree relatives of those with suspected FH are genetically screened to determine if they are at risk, and where necessary, to start them on preventive oral medication early.
With the findings of SG100K, we can identify many more correlations between patients’ genetic make-up, their social and environmental factors, and onset of severe diseases. These provide powerful bases for preventive care.


Recently we read in the news that Chris Hemsworth, the Australian Hollywood star who acted in Marvel superhero movies, did a genetic test, and found that he is at heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This has prompted him to declare that he is changing his life goals, including to spend more time with his family.
But more importantly, people like him can start taking steps to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The journey ahead​

What are the steps that we need to take now, given the profound and potentially revolutionary implications of precision medicine.
We must first recognise that all major technological breakthroughs, from gunpowder and nuclear energy to the Internet and artificial intelligence, are double-edged swords. They promise to deliver a lot of good to humankind, but they also inadvertently present risks and downsides. We need to ponder quite deeply and take steps to harness the good of technology, while minimising the risks and downsides.
Precision medicine is no different. In this regard, I think there are at least two major areas of work that we must embark on.
The first, and which I think is a no-regrets move, is to start delivering preventive care universally to the public. This is in essence what we are doing under Healthier SG.
We are putting the key pieces of the preventive care system in place. We are mobilising family doctors and anchoring residents to dedicated doctors. We are developing more health protocols to manage chronic diseases through family doctors. In time, when precision medicine and genetic screening are ready to play a larger role in preventive care, the policies, systems and processes will be ready too, to embrace this scientific breakthrough and put it to good use.
For example, you can imagine, family doctors can administer or facilitate genetic screening for their patients. Preventive interventions will be readily available in the community, especially when it concerns many diseases where preventive steps tend to converge on good diet, proper sleep and appropriate physical activities.


A second area of work requires much deeper thought, analysis, weighing of pros and cons, and even societal soul-searching. Because the policy implications of precision medicine are profound.
We have gone through similar technological spurts before. When the Internet first appeared, it opened up all kinds of possibilities and filled the world with wonderment, with so much stuff that we can do with our computer. But then came the dot.com burst, cyber bullying, propagation of extreme ideas, child pornography, mobilisation of riots, et cetera. So while the Internet has become an integral part of our lives now, societies all over the world are still playing catch-up, putting in place policies and legislation to protect themselves against the darker side of the Internet.
We are likely to face similar dilemmas with precision medicine. A technological breakthrough like this opens up a broad spectrum of possibilities. At one end are those that are convincingly good – more cost-effective treatments with better outcomes, targeted clinical interventions to prevent diseases or their progression, optimised medication to minimise severe drug allergies.
At the other end are possibilities that are undeniably bad – for example, organisations that hire based on genetic profiles, which could be possible; couples testing for genetic traits of a foetus before deciding whether to keep it. Today, the Ministry of Health already imposes a moratorium on the insurance industry against genetic discrimination in health insurance coverage. At some point, it would probably need to become law.
In between the convincingly good and undeniably bad are many shades of grey, possibilities with pros and cons, or benefits that we can realise provided we address the key concerns.
You might have read recently, a news report concerning Alyssa, a 13-year-old girl in the UK who has leukaemia. She participated in a clinical trial using genetic “base editing” technology, where she received T-cells from a healthy donor that were genetically modified to attack the cancerous cells in her body. Today, she is in remission.
This is great news. But we also need to understand the context, the implications and issues it has raised.
Alyssa is likely a unique case – someone who did not respond to traditional treatments and was found to be suitable for gene therapy. So “gene editing” technology is yet to be a mainstream treatment that is suitable for most people.
Even amongst those found suitable for the treatment, it may not work well for everyone, as it did for Alyssa.
And even if it is effective and the patient is suitable, there is the issue of cost. Novel treatments like this are in the range of multiple millions of dollars per patient. Unlike traditional treatment, the cost is not in research and development, but in the customisation and delivery of the therapy.
Hence, if and when this technology is proven to be efficacious enough to become mainstream, we must ensure that it can be accessible to the patients who need it clinically, and not just those who can afford it. This will require a major rethinking of healthcare financing policies and healthcare safety nets. No healthcare financing policy in the world is now designed for this.


Similarly, in the area of preventive care, while genetic sequencing of an individual can provide useful signposts for future possible diseases, we also don’t want a population of hypochondriacs and unnecessary medical interventions all over the place. The benefits therefore, are not straightforward, in the absence of proper rules and clinical protocols.
We need to decide: to what extent will we allow the extrapolation and interpretation of genetic test results? To what extent will we allow the results to be translated to clinical actions?
Hence, for us to fully benefit from precision medicine, much work needs to be done, in clinical development, ascertainment of cost and medical effectiveness, healthcare financing policies, legislation, and determining what is encouraged, allowed and proscribed.
We need to conduct a great deal of studies, consultations and engagements with policymakers, physicians, economists, regulatory bodies, bioethicists, the public and patients.

The moon shot​

From time to time, we hear about the medical moon shot – a major breakthrough like curing of cancer, that is as significant as sending a person to the moon. Indeed, we are on the cusp of witnessing the medical moon shot, because of precision medicine.
The moon shot and precision medicine differ in in one key aspect – which is that very few people are astronauts, while healthcare touches the lives of almost everyone, directly or indirectly.
The promise of better treatments is always good news, but it always comes with many uncertainties, and moral, ethical and policy dilemmas.
There are however powerful similarities between the two as well. First, they are both not about advancement in just one technology. Many strands of breakthroughs come together to make the moon shot possible. All need to be ready and come together to make the endeavour successful. Similarly, for precision medicine to serve humankind well, technology, delivery systems, legislation, clinical protocols, ethical standards, patient education, et cetera, have to be concurrently in place.
The most important similarity is the human spirit driving such advancements. Human beings are always determined to march forward, venture into the unknown, to embrace scientific advancement for the benefit of our present and future generations. Each society and country will do its part. SG100K represents such a step forward, to help us learn more, improve and seek answers, in Singapore.

 

[jw5]

OYK wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, a happy year ahead, and good health always.

Ong Ye Kung​

20 h ·
It’s a time for reflection for the year. 2022 has been tough, especially for healthcare workers and Ministry of Health - Singapore in general. Three waves, three valiant efforts, and a much stronger society at the end of each.
It is a good reminder that life is precious. Our way of life is worth fighting for, with unity, care and kindness. Have a Merry Christmas, a happy year ahead, and good health always.

 

[jw5]

OYK has your back.

Ong Ye Kung​

8 h ·
Need tips on how to take care of your spine? I've got your back.

#HealthierSG

 

[jw5]

OYK visited the new National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) earlier this month.

Ong Ye Kung​

22 h ·
Visited the new National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) earlier this month.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore. However, survival rates have improved with early detection, better treatment regimens, and technological developments.
At five times larger than the current centre, the new NCCS will bring together clinical services, research, education and supportive care for cancer under one roof. This will widen access to cancer treatment and meet future patient care needs.
Among the expanded facilities will include the Ambulatory Treatment Unit which has 7 treatment suites and 109 chairs for patients to receive chemotherapy treatment. Also saw the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre, which will offer Proton Beam Therapy, an advanced type of radiation treatment that precisely targets cancer cells, reducing damage to nearby healthy tissues.
The new NCCS will open in phases, with all clinical services available by March 2023.

 

[jw5]

OYK sincerely thanks all his friends, colleagues and partners.

Ong Ye Kung​

8 h ·
At the National Day Rally this year, PM Lee Hsien Loong announced that those who contributed to the fight against COVID-19 will be recognised through the National Awards (COVID-19) and the COVID-19 Resilience Medal.
The awardees have been finalised. More than 100,000 individuals and teams from the public, private and people sectors will be honoured for their contribution in overcoming this crisis of a generation.
About half of the National Awards (COVID-19) awardees are from the healthcare family. To them, the Awards have an added significance.
Ever since COVID-19 struck, the sector has been at the frontline, facing tremendous stress. In fact, as I have always described, healthcare workers are the last line of defence. When precautions and vaccinations fail, they are there to treat, cure and comfort.
We depended on the healthcare sector to shoulder the inevitable consequences of more infections and hospitalisations, when we progressively opened up economic and social activities. Because of their work, Singapore has registered one of the lowest COVID-19 fatality rates in the world, while having restored normal lives.
I sincerely thank all my friends, colleagues and partners - those working in hospitals, the operational task forces that looked after vaccinations, contact tracing, home recovery, Health Sciences Authority, Health Promotion Board, Singapore, Agency for Integrated Care - AIC Singapore, MOH Holdings, Community Care partners, private hospitals, GPs etc - for fighting this together. You are an exceptional team, during an exceptional time.
Congratulations to all the award recipients. I look forward to meeting you in person at the ceremony next year.

 

[jw5]

Ong Ye Kung​

9 h ·

Medical team posing in the Sungei Tengah dormitory after a day’s work.

Between April and August 2020, over 1,000 staff from across the NUHS institutions stepped forward readily to volunteer in the pandemic operations for dormitories.

Photo: National University Health System

 

[jw5]

Ong Ye Kung​

9 h ·

Tan Tock Seng Hospital frontline staff

Photo: Tan Tock Seng Hospital

 

[jw5]

Ong Ye Kung​

10 h ·

A resident from The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home receiving her vaccination

Photo: The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home

 

[Charlie99]

OYK chats with an oldman.

View attachment 172044

A better term,may be elderly gentleman.

 

[Charlie99]

OYK poses with an unmasked family.

View attachment 172836

An unpleasant looking face, and unattractive features.
Whether this gentleman is very smart and bright, is irrelevant.

 

[jw5]

An unpleasant looking face, and unattractive features.
Whether this gentleman is very smart and bright, is irrelevant.

Yes. It would indeed be better if he was better looking.