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Source: www.moh.gov.sg |
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Medisave for Chronic Disease
Management Programme |
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Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health (MOH)
announced its plan to improve the care for chronic diseases, starting
with four conditions - namely diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders (eg:
high cholesterol) and stroke. |
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The level of care will be raised through the
promotion and extensive use of systematic, evidence-based chronic
disease management programmes (DMPs). |
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Patients with such chronic diseases are
encouraged to work with their doctors, particularly their Family
Physicians, to actively manage their diseases, through regular
monitoring, appropriate medical treatment and lifestyle changes. |
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As disease management programmes can largely
be effected at the outpatient level, MOH will allow the use of Medisave
to help pay part of the outpatient cost, making it affordable to the
patients. |
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Through this initiative, the Ministry aims
to achieve better health outcomes for these patients and avoid, delay or
reduce the development of complications which otherwise would lead to
hospitalisation and costly inpatient treatments. |
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About one million Singaporeans suffer from
one of the four chronic diseases. If all of them actively participate in
this scheme, it is projected that Medisave withdrawal could reach up to
$250 million a year, in the steady state. |
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But as Medisave is primarily set up for
inpatient treatment, this significant liberalisation has to be carefully
designed to ensure that Medisave does not inadvertently become
prematurely depleted. |
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MOH formed 2 committees to develop the
programme: a Steering Committee to oversee implementation and
integration of clinical, process and IT; and a Clinical Advisory
Committee to refine the DMPs and provide professional medical inputs. |
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MOH and CPFB have also consulted doctors,
patients and other stakeholders extensively through a series of focus
group discussions. |
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Implementation will be done in two
stages. From 1 Oct 2006, the Medisave for Chronic Disease
Management Programme will be launched with Diabetes Mellitus as
the first chronic disease covered under the scheme. |
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This will help us refine the implementation
details with a view to extend the programme to the other chronic
diseases - hypertension, lipid disorders and stroke - from 1 January
2007. |
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Other chronic diseases with proven disease
management protocols will be considered for inclusion under this scheme,
after we have had some time to evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme. |
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MOH has developed a comprehensive support
structure for this programme. First, we have developed web-based IT
systems that make it convenient for the doctors to submit Medisave
claims and relevant patients' health outcomes to MOH and CPF. |
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Second, we have developed educational
tool-kits and other support materials for use by the doctors to help
them explain to their patients more effectively. |
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Third, we will help the patients and their
families better understand these diseases and what they can do to manage
their conditions, so that they can achieve better health. |
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Empowering the patients and motivating them
to take responsibility for their own health and making relevant changes
to their lifestyles, for example changing their diets and exercising,
are important success factors. |
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We will provide patients with patient
education folders, which will include background information on chronic
diseases, patient booklets for recording of vital clinical indicators to
aid self-monitoring, and answers to patients' frequently asked
questions. |
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Fourth, we will set up a helpline for
the public to call in with their queries, as well as a website
listing all participating clinics. The contact details will be
provided in due course. This will be operational in September
2006. |
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During our public consultations with
patients and care providers, we received strong support from them
for the Medisave for Chronic Disease Management Programme. |
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Patients understood and supported a
systematic program, and agreed on the need to have a regular
doctor whom they can trust to manage their chronic diseases. |
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MOH would like to use this opportunity
to urge all Singaporeans to have their regular Family Physicians
to help them manage their health. Clinic-hopping is less effective
in controlling chronic diseases. |
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The "One Singaporean, One Family
Physician" approach will help Singaporeans achieve better health
while saving cost. |
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GPs who attended the consultations
have responded positively to this initiative, with many
registering to provide care for patients under the programme. |
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MOH will continue to reach out to the
GPs, including a series of eight road-shows over the next 2 weeks
(28 Aug to 9 Sep). These road-shows will elaborate on the details
of the scheme and provide an opportunity for GPs to sign up for
the programme. We strongly encourage GPs who are interested in the
scheme to join us. |
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This is a national effort to radically
change the way we treat chronic diseases. We must move from
sub-optimal episodic or reactive care of symptoms, towards
life-long holistic care emphasising prevention and health
maintenance. |
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The key is to manage such diseases
while they are still mild or moderate, with a view to avoid future
complications requiring multiple specialist attention. This way,
we help save patients money while ensuring longer years of healthy
life. |
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We hope all patients will participate
actively in this programme and cooperate with us to bring about
better health for them. |
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Source: www.moh.gov.sg
Press Release 28 Aug 2006 |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 2 September 2006
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