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Serious Many Pappys don't like OngYK..not Team player.
- Thread starter SalahParking
- Start date
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The recent uptick in Covid-19 cases in Singapore is not a new wave, said Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (May 12).
As a result, Singaporeans do not have to worry that there will be any adjustments to current safe management measures (SMMs).
Mr Ong said: "With strong resilience to the virus due to vaccinations and recovery from past infections, we should be able to see through this uptick of cases, without any adjustments to current SMMs."
In an update published on his Facebook page on Thursday, Mr Ong also said the current spike is an understandable consequence of the relaxation in SMMs since April 26.
Since the changes took place, residents do not have to wear masks outdoors and there is no cap to the number of visitors to a house, among other things.
These changes also came alongside the reduction of the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition level, which indicates the current situation, from orange to yellow.
On Thursday, Singapore recorded 3,645 new cases, compared to 3,890 cases on Wednesday. The weekly infection growth rate also returned to 1.49, the same as on Tuesday. It was 1.76 on Wednesday.
The rate refers to the ratio of community cases for the past week over those in the week before. A rate of more than 1 shows the number of new weekly Covid-19 cases is increasing. The rate stood at 0.82 last Thursday.
Mr Ong also said most current Covid-19 cases now have mild symptoms and recover uneventfully at home.
"Singapore's hospitals and ICUs are not currently seeing a rise of severe Covid-19 cases," he added.
On Thursday, there were 265 patients in hospital, including 30 who need oxygen support and 7 in intensive care. A week ago on May 5, there were 231 patients who were hospitalised, which included 18 who needed oxygen support, and 6 in the ICU.
But he said the government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Mr Ong said: "Things can change very quickly, especially if a new variant was to emerge."
He added: "Even as we enjoy this period of respite, we must not let our guard down and should continue to exercise personal and social responsibility at all times."
Recent uptick in Covid-19 cases not a new wave, no adjustments to measures needed: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The recent uptick in Covid-19 cases in Singapore is not a new wave, said Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (May 12).
As a result, Singaporeans do not have to worry that there will be any adjustments to current safe management measures (SMMs).
Mr Ong said: "With strong resilience to the virus due to vaccinations and recovery from past infections, we should be able to see through this uptick of cases, without any adjustments to current SMMs."
In an update published on his Facebook page on Thursday, Mr Ong also said the current spike is an understandable consequence of the relaxation in SMMs since April 26.
Since the changes took place, residents do not have to wear masks outdoors and there is no cap to the number of visitors to a house, among other things.
These changes also came alongside the reduction of the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition level, which indicates the current situation, from orange to yellow.
On Thursday, Singapore recorded 3,645 new cases, compared to 3,890 cases on Wednesday. The weekly infection growth rate also returned to 1.49, the same as on Tuesday. It was 1.76 on Wednesday.
The rate refers to the ratio of community cases for the past week over those in the week before. A rate of more than 1 shows the number of new weekly Covid-19 cases is increasing. The rate stood at 0.82 last Thursday.
Mr Ong also said most current Covid-19 cases now have mild symptoms and recover uneventfully at home.
"Singapore's hospitals and ICUs are not currently seeing a rise of severe Covid-19 cases," he added.
On Thursday, there were 265 patients in hospital, including 30 who need oxygen support and 7 in intensive care. A week ago on May 5, there were 231 patients who were hospitalised, which included 18 who needed oxygen support, and 6 in the ICU.
But he said the government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Mr Ong said: "Things can change very quickly, especially if a new variant was to emerge."
He added: "Even as we enjoy this period of respite, we must not let our guard down and should continue to exercise personal and social responsibility at all times."
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - The biggest enemy today is not the Covid-19 virus but complacency and letting one's guard down because life seems back to normal, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
Noting that Asean member states have managed to weather the storm thanks to close cooperation, he suggested focusing on testing and surveillance, vaccinations as well as ensuring the resilience of travel lanes and supply chains to prepare for future threats.
Mr Ong was speaking at the 15th Health Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings in Bali on Saturday (May 14). He and his Asean counterparts shared updates and exchanged views on strengthening healthcare systems in the region to improve the collective preparedness to pandemics.
"In the coming few months, we are all likely to see new waves in our countries, either a resurgence of the Omicron wave as our societal immunity wanes, or a new variant that drives reinfections.
"A more dangerous threat is a new virus, which is bound to come as human activities continue to encroach into nature, and humans and animals continue to come into close contact," said Mr Ong.
To be better prepared than member states were when Covid-19 first struck, Mr Ong suggested enhancing testing and surveillance.
Calling the establishment of the Asean Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases a breakthrough, he said: "This forms the nucleus of a regular monitoring and good surveillance capabilities and response system in our region. This will give us early warning of new Covid-19 variants of concern and other emerging infectious diseases."
Mr Ong also noted the importance of making vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics available and urged members to not stop vaccination and booster shot programmes as immunity will wane over time, and there is a risk that current vaccines will be less effective against the next variant of concern.
Asean can also collaborate better to ensure that vaccine supplies are available to those who need them, such as by doing more to facilitate vaccine donations and swops among member states, said Mr Ong.
He also encouraged members to ensure the resilience of travel lanes and supply chains since the pandemic contributed to an unprecedented rise in shipping costs, which has not subsided, as well as disrupted travel.
Mr Ong said the establishment of an Asean mutual recognition system for vaccine certificates was discussed over the weekend-long meeting.
He noted that after establishing such a system, similar systems can be forged with other regions, such as the United States, China, India and the European Union.
"Checking for vaccination certifications may well be the norm for travel, just as we check our bags and our passports," he said.
During the weekend trip, Mr Ong held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei.
He said: "Singapore looks forward to continuing to work closely with Asean member states in our efforts and accelerate our response to be ready for the next Covid-19 wave, or even the next pandemic."
Covid-19 is not the biggest enemy today, it's complacency: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - The biggest enemy today is not the Covid-19 virus but complacency and letting one's guard down because life seems back to normal, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.
Noting that Asean member states have managed to weather the storm thanks to close cooperation, he suggested focusing on testing and surveillance, vaccinations as well as ensuring the resilience of travel lanes and supply chains to prepare for future threats.
Mr Ong was speaking at the 15th Health Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings in Bali on Saturday (May 14). He and his Asean counterparts shared updates and exchanged views on strengthening healthcare systems in the region to improve the collective preparedness to pandemics.
"In the coming few months, we are all likely to see new waves in our countries, either a resurgence of the Omicron wave as our societal immunity wanes, or a new variant that drives reinfections.
"A more dangerous threat is a new virus, which is bound to come as human activities continue to encroach into nature, and humans and animals continue to come into close contact," said Mr Ong.
To be better prepared than member states were when Covid-19 first struck, Mr Ong suggested enhancing testing and surveillance.
Calling the establishment of the Asean Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases a breakthrough, he said: "This forms the nucleus of a regular monitoring and good surveillance capabilities and response system in our region. This will give us early warning of new Covid-19 variants of concern and other emerging infectious diseases."
Mr Ong also noted the importance of making vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics available and urged members to not stop vaccination and booster shot programmes as immunity will wane over time, and there is a risk that current vaccines will be less effective against the next variant of concern.
Asean can also collaborate better to ensure that vaccine supplies are available to those who need them, such as by doing more to facilitate vaccine donations and swops among member states, said Mr Ong.
He also encouraged members to ensure the resilience of travel lanes and supply chains since the pandemic contributed to an unprecedented rise in shipping costs, which has not subsided, as well as disrupted travel.
Mr Ong said the establishment of an Asean mutual recognition system for vaccine certificates was discussed over the weekend-long meeting.
He noted that after establishing such a system, similar systems can be forged with other regions, such as the United States, China, India and the European Union.
"Checking for vaccination certifications may well be the norm for travel, just as we check our bags and our passports," he said.
During the weekend trip, Mr Ong held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei.
He said: "Singapore looks forward to continuing to work closely with Asean member states in our efforts and accelerate our response to be ready for the next Covid-19 wave, or even the next pandemic."
OYK thanks all family doctors. 
Today is World Family Doctor Day – first declared by the World Organisation of Family Doctors in 2010.
It is to recognise the contribution of primary care doctors, who are the first line of care for many patients.
More than that, they are also a trusted friend who understands our health conditions and have our well-being at heart.
In #Singapore, they will also be key drivers of our #HealthierSG movement to keep residents healthy and healthier.
Thank you to all our family doctors for always being there for us!
#WorldFamilyDoctorDay
Photo credit: to all the family doctors who serve their patients wholeheartedly!
Ong Ye Kung
12 hrs ·Today is World Family Doctor Day – first declared by the World Organisation of Family Doctors in 2010.
It is to recognise the contribution of primary care doctors, who are the first line of care for many patients.
More than that, they are also a trusted friend who understands our health conditions and have our well-being at heart.
In #Singapore, they will also be key drivers of our #HealthierSG movement to keep residents healthy and healthier.
Thank you to all our family doctors for always being there for us!
#WorldFamilyDoctorDay
Photo credit: to all the family doctors who serve their patients wholeheartedly!
OYK wants to hear your views.
This is Anwar and his family doctor, Dr Tan.
A good family doctor and patient relationship paves the way to a healthier lifestyle.
We just launched our Healthier SG public consultation. Share your views, and help us shape #HealthierSG together.
To learn more about Healthier SG, visit https://www.healthiersg.gov.sg.
Ong Ye Kung
9 hrs ·This is Anwar and his family doctor, Dr Tan.
A good family doctor and patient relationship paves the way to a healthier lifestyle.
We just launched our Healthier SG public consultation. Share your views, and help us shape #HealthierSG together.
To learn more about Healthier SG, visit https://www.healthiersg.gov.sg.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Why do some people doctor-hop while others stick with the same family physician for years? And what makes a patient more likely to take a doctor's medical advice?
These are questions the Health Ministry (MOH) hopes to find answers to through a series of public consultations on its new Healthier SG strategy, which aims to get general practitioners more involved in preventive care.
Five in-person sessions will take place between May 26 and June 15, with the public also able to give feedback online.
The consultation exercise will end on Aug 15, with the findings to feed into a White Paper that will be tabled in Parliament for debate later this year.
"In a nutshell, we want to find out why do residents not go to one doctor. That is what we really wish everyone would do," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on the sidelines of a visit to A Medical Clinic on Wednesday (May 18).
"Number two: If you stick to a doctor, and the doctor gives you a care plan to help you stay healthy, what are the things you wish to see in that care plan? What are the things we can do, to encourage you to stay with the care plan and don't give up?"
Apart from ordinary Singaporeans, his ministry has also sought feedback from general practitioners and representatives from the country's three healthcare clusters.
It will also be working with intermediate and long-term care providers - such as nursing homes - and community organisations on the topic.
The Healthier SG strategy was first unveiled in March, during the debate on MOH's budget. It marks a nationwide shift away from the traditional emphasis on illness-based hospital care, and towards a focus on preventive care that will nip diseases in the bud.
The underlying aim is to keep a lid on rising healthcare costs by tackling the problem at its roots, keeping people healthy for longer so they will need less medical care.
For patients, having one regular, trusted doctor who tracks their health and offers personalised medical advice is a key part of this strategy.
Mr Ong said his ministry has already garnered the views of thousands of general practitioners through online townhall meetings.
Some pointed out that drug prices at polyclinics tend to be cheaper than what private GPs are able to secure, while others said clinic IT systems need improvement. Third-party administrators - companies that typically act as middlemen between employers and clinics for a fee - were another point of contention, he said.
Solving these issues will require spending money in the short term, which should be seen as an investment to achieve the country's longer-term goals, Mr Ong added.
"We should invest in preventive care, even if it means spending some money on IT systems and considering how we level the drug subsidies between polyclinics and other clinics," he said.
"And these are things that we should do, in order to reduce the pain, suffering and costs in the future."
During his visit to the Everton Park clinic, Mr Ong spoke with medical director Adjunct Assistant Professor Lim Hong Shen and several of his regular patients.
One of them was Madam Setoh Hong Lian, who said she had been going to see Dr Lim since his clinic opened three years ago. He helps her manage various medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma and high cholesterol.
"He's a very good and caring doctor," said the 72-year-old in Mandarin. "When I got Covid and couldn't leave the house, he came to my house to give me insulin injections. His staff also brought me food."
Dr Lim stressed the importance of building trust with patients and communicating the importance of preventive care.
"Do you come to us so that you can continue to remain well? Or do you only come to us when you're sick? I think there will always be a mix," he said.
To broach the issue of preventive care, Dr Lim added that he weaves topics such as yearly flu vaccinations or health screenings into his regular consultations.
"Fundamentally, we are driven by the passion to make a change - whether it's one patient at a time, or many patients at a time - to influence their care and help them be healthier at the end of the day."
Health Ministry seeks feedback on plans to keep Singapore healthier
SINGAPORE - Why do some people doctor-hop while others stick with the same family physician for years? And what makes a patient more likely to take a doctor's medical advice?
These are questions the Health Ministry (MOH) hopes to find answers to through a series of public consultations on its new Healthier SG strategy, which aims to get general practitioners more involved in preventive care.
Five in-person sessions will take place between May 26 and June 15, with the public also able to give feedback online.
The consultation exercise will end on Aug 15, with the findings to feed into a White Paper that will be tabled in Parliament for debate later this year.
"In a nutshell, we want to find out why do residents not go to one doctor. That is what we really wish everyone would do," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on the sidelines of a visit to A Medical Clinic on Wednesday (May 18).
"Number two: If you stick to a doctor, and the doctor gives you a care plan to help you stay healthy, what are the things you wish to see in that care plan? What are the things we can do, to encourage you to stay with the care plan and don't give up?"
Apart from ordinary Singaporeans, his ministry has also sought feedback from general practitioners and representatives from the country's three healthcare clusters.
It will also be working with intermediate and long-term care providers - such as nursing homes - and community organisations on the topic.
The Healthier SG strategy was first unveiled in March, during the debate on MOH's budget. It marks a nationwide shift away from the traditional emphasis on illness-based hospital care, and towards a focus on preventive care that will nip diseases in the bud.
The underlying aim is to keep a lid on rising healthcare costs by tackling the problem at its roots, keeping people healthy for longer so they will need less medical care.
For patients, having one regular, trusted doctor who tracks their health and offers personalised medical advice is a key part of this strategy.
Mr Ong said his ministry has already garnered the views of thousands of general practitioners through online townhall meetings.
Some pointed out that drug prices at polyclinics tend to be cheaper than what private GPs are able to secure, while others said clinic IT systems need improvement. Third-party administrators - companies that typically act as middlemen between employers and clinics for a fee - were another point of contention, he said.
Solving these issues will require spending money in the short term, which should be seen as an investment to achieve the country's longer-term goals, Mr Ong added.
"We should invest in preventive care, even if it means spending some money on IT systems and considering how we level the drug subsidies between polyclinics and other clinics," he said.
"And these are things that we should do, in order to reduce the pain, suffering and costs in the future."
During his visit to the Everton Park clinic, Mr Ong spoke with medical director Adjunct Assistant Professor Lim Hong Shen and several of his regular patients.
One of them was Madam Setoh Hong Lian, who said she had been going to see Dr Lim since his clinic opened three years ago. He helps her manage various medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma and high cholesterol.
"He's a very good and caring doctor," said the 72-year-old in Mandarin. "When I got Covid and couldn't leave the house, he came to my house to give me insulin injections. His staff also brought me food."
Dr Lim stressed the importance of building trust with patients and communicating the importance of preventive care.
"Do you come to us so that you can continue to remain well? Or do you only come to us when you're sick? I think there will always be a mix," he said.
To broach the issue of preventive care, Dr Lim added that he weaves topics such as yearly flu vaccinations or health screenings into his regular consultations.
"Fundamentally, we are driven by the passion to make a change - whether it's one patient at a time, or many patients at a time - to influence their care and help them be healthier at the end of the day."
OYK arrived in Geneva. 
Arrived today in Geneva, Switzerland for the 75th World Health Assembly.
Ahead of the session, I met up with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and several of his key staff and experts.
We had a fruitful discussion on the course ahead in fighting COVID-19. The pandemic is not over, but our approach needs to continue to adjust as the situation changes.
Looking forward to engaging our international health counterparts in the coming days.
Today, the sun is up, there is a music festival in Geneva, and people are out in full force enjoying their much cherished freedom.
Ong Ye Kung
16 hrs ·Arrived today in Geneva, Switzerland for the 75th World Health Assembly.
Ahead of the session, I met up with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and several of his key staff and experts.
We had a fruitful discussion on the course ahead in fighting COVID-19. The pandemic is not over, but our approach needs to continue to adjust as the situation changes.
Looking forward to engaging our international health counterparts in the coming days.
Today, the sun is up, there is a music festival in Geneva, and people are out in full force enjoying their much cherished freedom.
from straitstimes.com:
SINGAPORE - Preventive care, which focuses more on building health as opposed to treating sicknesses, will be Singapore's top priority for the next decade, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday (May 23).
With family doctors central figures in this push, Singapore will need public policies to better support family doctors to help the population stay healthy, he said.
"We need to build strong links and referral protocols between family doctors and hospitals, so the latter can better support them, especially for serious and complex cases."
Singapore will need family doctors to offer not just drug prescriptions, but also social prescriptions such as better diet and regular exercise to inculcate good health habits, he added.
The authorities will link them up with community organisers who can deliver such healthy regimes.
Mr Ong was speaking at the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
He said the authorities will need to encourage people, including healthy ones, to commit to seeing one family doctor regularly and over the long term.
There is also a need for IT systems that share medical records of patients seamlessly across different healthcare settings.
"We live in an era of fascinating medical technology advancement. We need to embrace them," added Mr Ong.
"But the most urgent healthcare policies have got to do with simpler policies that support the humble and essential family doctor."
The Health Ministry had in March announced that the nation will shift 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.
Family doctors have been earmarked to play a key role under the Healthier SG strategy, which will see each resident here being invited to enrol with one general practitioner or polyclinic doctor of their choice for all their care needs.
Mr Ong said on Monday that non-communicable diseases are on the rise both in Singapore and around the world.
Governments need to make people healthier and prevent them from becoming chronically ill, instead of accepting people getting such illnesses as a given.
"The wave of chronic diseases from unhealthy lifestyles is, in the long term, potentially more challenging than Covid-19 infection waves in the short term," said Mr Ong.
"We need to put more weight on building health, in families and communities, and not limit ourselves only to treating sickness in hospitals and operating theatres."
More public policies to support family doctors in push for preventive healthcare: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE - Preventive care, which focuses more on building health as opposed to treating sicknesses, will be Singapore's top priority for the next decade, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday (May 23).
With family doctors central figures in this push, Singapore will need public policies to better support family doctors to help the population stay healthy, he said.
"We need to build strong links and referral protocols between family doctors and hospitals, so the latter can better support them, especially for serious and complex cases."
Singapore will need family doctors to offer not just drug prescriptions, but also social prescriptions such as better diet and regular exercise to inculcate good health habits, he added.
The authorities will link them up with community organisers who can deliver such healthy regimes.
Mr Ong was speaking at the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
He said the authorities will need to encourage people, including healthy ones, to commit to seeing one family doctor regularly and over the long term.
There is also a need for IT systems that share medical records of patients seamlessly across different healthcare settings.
"We live in an era of fascinating medical technology advancement. We need to embrace them," added Mr Ong.
"But the most urgent healthcare policies have got to do with simpler policies that support the humble and essential family doctor."
The Health Ministry had in March announced that the nation will shift 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.
Family doctors have been earmarked to play a key role under the Healthier SG strategy, which will see each resident here being invited to enrol with one general practitioner or polyclinic doctor of their choice for all their care needs.
Mr Ong said on Monday that non-communicable diseases are on the rise both in Singapore and around the world.
Governments need to make people healthier and prevent them from becoming chronically ill, instead of accepting people getting such illnesses as a given.
"The wave of chronic diseases from unhealthy lifestyles is, in the long term, potentially more challenging than Covid-19 infection waves in the short term," said Mr Ong.
"We need to put more weight on building health, in families and communities, and not limit ourselves only to treating sickness in hospitals and operating theatres."
OYK found a display of postcards.
Found this display of postcards at the Palais des Nations, home of the United Nations in Geneva. Can you spot #Singapore amongst the 193 UN Member States?
Ong Ye Kung
21 hrs ·Found this display of postcards at the Palais des Nations, home of the United Nations in Geneva. Can you spot #Singapore amongst the 193 UN Member States?
OYK introduces 5 Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs).
Our first 5 Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) are up and running from today. Each JTVC can administer up to 4,500 vaccinations and some 2,000 ART/PCR tests a day. 5 additional centres will be ready in end June.
With these joint centres, we can return community clubs back to the community, and yet we stand prepared for any rapid changes in the COVID-19 situation.
Many who are not suitable for mRNA vaccine have also benefitted from the rollout of Novavax’s Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine. Some 130 have received the first dose of their primary series and about 550 were boosted with Nuvaxovid as of 23 May. As of noon, more than 2,600 people have booked an appointment to receive the vaccine.
Let’s continue to protect ourselves.
Ong Ye Kung
1 hr ·Our first 5 Joint Testing and Vaccination Centres (JTVCs) are up and running from today. Each JTVC can administer up to 4,500 vaccinations and some 2,000 ART/PCR tests a day. 5 additional centres will be ready in end June.
With these joint centres, we can return community clubs back to the community, and yet we stand prepared for any rapid changes in the COVID-19 situation.
Many who are not suitable for mRNA vaccine have also benefitted from the rollout of Novavax’s Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine. Some 130 have received the first dose of their primary series and about 550 were boosted with Nuvaxovid as of 23 May. As of noon, more than 2,600 people have booked an appointment to receive the vaccine.
Let’s continue to protect ourselves.
