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http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20090816-161409.html
Sun, Aug 16, 2009
AsiaOne
Govt to push for filial piety: PM
Health care and medical cost will be one of Singapore's long term problems, says PM Lee.
Speaking in Mandarin at the National Day Rally held earlier this evening, he said that the Government has adopted a number of measures to moderate the increases in medical costs.
He said: "Basically, the majority of Singaporeans can afford medical costs, but I know that this continues to be a problem that many Singaporeans are concerned with.
"I understand the thinking. Many people need to look after their aged parents who are sick. The burden is quite heavy."
He also highlighted the reality of an aging society.
"When a person gets older, he becomes more sickly... and the recovery period will take longer. It can't be helped. It's part of human nature," he said.
The government is taking active measures to respond to this situation.
One such measure is to build more acute hospitals, like the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in the North and the Jurong General Hospital in the West.
However, he emphasised that besides building such large-scale hospitals, community hospitals must also be set up.
Complementary support systems
He explained that community hospitals can complement the larger medical facilities by providing low-cost and appropriate step-down care for older patients during recuperation after their discharge from acute hospitals.
Community hospitals also have another function, he said. They are closely connected to the community and are able to get support from various sectors.
Citing the relationship between Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Ren Ci Hospital - which are located next to each other - as an example of a good model, he said that the Health Minister is currently looking into how it can be extended to other government hospitals.
"TTSH provides medical assistance and comfort. After patients have stabilised, they can then go on to Ren Ci until they are fully recovered.
The patients at Ren Ci need not worry because if their conditions deteriorate, they can immediately return to TTSH."
He also highlighted the positive activities carried out at Ren Ci.
"When I went to Ren Ci, I saw a group of volunteers, together with the patients, singing karaoke," he said. Such activities help the patients to become more cheerful, enabling them to recover earlier.
Filial piety
However, hospitals are not the final end point for all elderly patients.
"Sooner or later, they have to go home. In fact, the earlier the better.
"When they go home to rest, the family members will have to take up the responsibility to look after them," he said.
Children should not shirk from this responsibility, he said.
"I know it is quite a heavy burden and some people say there's no filial son for long-term illness.
"I don't quite agree. But whatever happens, however heavy the burden, we should not shift our responsibility away,"
He reminded the public that filial piety is a traditional virtue that should be maintained.
The government will try its best to look after the aged, but warmth and love can only be provided by families, he said.
However, some Singaporeans have not preserved this virtue and have abandoned their parents in the homes or hospitals, he said.
"After sending their parents to the homes, sometimes they disappear and even change their addresses on their identity cards.
"When contacted by the nursing home, they say 'It's not my business' and they would not mind if the nursing homes were to drive the parents away," he said.
As this behaviour is causing great discomfort to the leaders, the government is looking into implementing the Maintenance of Parents Act in a more effective way so that children will fulfil their duty.
Sun, Aug 16, 2009
AsiaOne
Govt to push for filial piety: PM
Health care and medical cost will be one of Singapore's long term problems, says PM Lee.
Speaking in Mandarin at the National Day Rally held earlier this evening, he said that the Government has adopted a number of measures to moderate the increases in medical costs.
He said: "Basically, the majority of Singaporeans can afford medical costs, but I know that this continues to be a problem that many Singaporeans are concerned with.
"I understand the thinking. Many people need to look after their aged parents who are sick. The burden is quite heavy."
He also highlighted the reality of an aging society.
"When a person gets older, he becomes more sickly... and the recovery period will take longer. It can't be helped. It's part of human nature," he said.
The government is taking active measures to respond to this situation.
One such measure is to build more acute hospitals, like the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in the North and the Jurong General Hospital in the West.
However, he emphasised that besides building such large-scale hospitals, community hospitals must also be set up.
Complementary support systems
He explained that community hospitals can complement the larger medical facilities by providing low-cost and appropriate step-down care for older patients during recuperation after their discharge from acute hospitals.
Community hospitals also have another function, he said. They are closely connected to the community and are able to get support from various sectors.
Citing the relationship between Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Ren Ci Hospital - which are located next to each other - as an example of a good model, he said that the Health Minister is currently looking into how it can be extended to other government hospitals.
"TTSH provides medical assistance and comfort. After patients have stabilised, they can then go on to Ren Ci until they are fully recovered.
The patients at Ren Ci need not worry because if their conditions deteriorate, they can immediately return to TTSH."
He also highlighted the positive activities carried out at Ren Ci.
"When I went to Ren Ci, I saw a group of volunteers, together with the patients, singing karaoke," he said. Such activities help the patients to become more cheerful, enabling them to recover earlier.
Filial piety
However, hospitals are not the final end point for all elderly patients.
"Sooner or later, they have to go home. In fact, the earlier the better.
"When they go home to rest, the family members will have to take up the responsibility to look after them," he said.
Children should not shirk from this responsibility, he said.
"I know it is quite a heavy burden and some people say there's no filial son for long-term illness.
"I don't quite agree. But whatever happens, however heavy the burden, we should not shift our responsibility away,"
He reminded the public that filial piety is a traditional virtue that should be maintained.
The government will try its best to look after the aged, but warmth and love can only be provided by families, he said.
However, some Singaporeans have not preserved this virtue and have abandoned their parents in the homes or hospitals, he said.
"After sending their parents to the homes, sometimes they disappear and even change their addresses on their identity cards.
"When contacted by the nursing home, they say 'It's not my business' and they would not mind if the nursing homes were to drive the parents away," he said.
As this behaviour is causing great discomfort to the leaders, the government is looking into implementing the Maintenance of Parents Act in a more effective way so that children will fulfil their duty.
:o
