ST editorial echoes idiotic MPs' stupidity

[Confuseous]

A wider concern is whether steps are being taken to meet the rising needs for hospitalisation over the longer term. The Health Ministry has assured that with planned expansion in hospital facilities coming on stream, there will be 1,900 more acute hospital beds and 2,600 community hospital beds by 2020. Ng Teng Fong General Hospital will be completed this year, followed next year by two new community hospitals in Jurong and Yishun. Sengkang General Hospital is scheduled for completion by 2018. The urgency is in order given the needs of an ageing population.

Meanwhile, though, some difficult questions have to be asked. If it is true that the crunch was partly caused by the holiday season rather than by a spike in illness, it is a sad commentary on the attitudes of some Singaporeans. Choosing to go on holiday, while a relative lies sick in hospital, is a filially impious act. Knowing that this will delay his or her discharge from hospital - at the expense of those who need the beds more - is no less than an anti-social act. The fact that the hospital stay is paid for does not mitigate the social irresponsibility displayed. Hospitals are not hotels. Public hospitals, which are heavily subsidised with the taxpayers' dollars, certainly are not intended to cater to the holiday plans of people. Tackling the bed crunch will call for both steps to ramp up supply and moderate demand.

 

[xingguy]

Source: TR EMERITUS

Dr Amy Khor: Need to put hospital bed crunch in context

At a post-Budget feedback forum on healthcare yesterday (20 Mar), 150 or so citizens were seen fighting for air time to ask Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor questions on healthcare issues, the media reported.

Many of them were concerned about the affordability of health care and the current hospital bed crunch.

On the matter with regard to hospital bed crunch, Dr Amy Khor, also chairman of Reach, said the Government will do “as much as we can” to address the capacity issue.

However, Dr Amy Khor seemed to attribute the current hospital bed crunch to “seasonal peak” demands.

“But we need to realise that this could happen again,” she said, referring to seasonal peaks that could strain hospital resources.

“I think we need to put these concerns in context. What is important is to make sure that patient safety is not compromised.”

Is our current hospital bed crunch really due to “seasonal peak” demands, as explained by Dr Amy Khor?

When compared with OECD countries in terms of hospital beds per 1,000 people, Singapore is actually right at the bottom with the poorer OECD countries such as Turkey, Chile and Mexico [Link]:

[table="width: 500, class: grid, align: left"]
[tr]
[td]Country[/td]
[td]Number of hospital beds
per 1000 population[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Japan[/td]
[td]13.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Korea[/td]
[td]9.6[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Germany[/td]
[td]8.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Austria[/td]
[td]7.7[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Hungary[/td]
[td]7.2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Czech Republic[/td]
[td]6.8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Poland[/td]
[td]6.6[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]France[/td]
[td]6.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Belgium[/td]
[td]6.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Slovak Republic[/td]
[td]6.1[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Finland[/td]
[td]5.5[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Luxembourg[/td]
[td]5.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Estonia[/td]
[td]5.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Greece[/td]
[td]4.9[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Switzerland[/td]
[td]4.9[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Netherlands[/td]
[td]4.7[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Slovenia[/td]
[td]4.6[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Australia[/td]
[td]3.8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Denmark[/td]
[td]3.5[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Italy[/td]
[td]3.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Portugal[/td]
[td]3.4[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Iceland[/td]
[td]3.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Israel[/td]
[td]3.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Norway [/td]
[td]3.3[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Spain[/td]
[td]3.2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]United States[/td]
[td]3.1[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Ireland[/td]
[td]3.0[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]United Kingdom[/td]
[td]3.0[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Canada [/td]
[td]2.8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]New Zealand[/td]
[td]2.8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Sweden[/td]
[td]2.7[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Turkey[/td]
[td]2.5[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Chile[/td]
[td]2.2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mexico[/td]
[td]1.7[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Average[/td]
[td]4.8[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
(based on latest available figures from each individual country)

Singapore is not a member of OECD. Singapore’s hospital bed density can be derived from DOS [Link]:
[table="width: 500, class: grid"]
[tr]
[td]Year[/td]
[td]No of hospital beds[/td]
[td] Population (’000)[/td]
[td]Number of hospital beds per 1000 population[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]2007[/td]
[td]11,547[/td]
[td]4,588.6[/td]
[td]2.5[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]2011[/td]
[td]11,394[/td]
[td]5,183.7[/td]
[td]2.2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]2012[/td]
[td]11,854[/td]
[td]5,312.4[/td]
[td]2.2[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

As can be seen, Singapore’s number of hospital beds per 1,000 people actually decreased from 2007 to 2012, dropping from 2.5 to 2.2, primarily due to a burgeoning increase in population (15.8% from 2007 to 2012) versus a small increase in the number of hospital beds (just 2.7% from 2007 to 2012).

Hence, in terms of hospital bed density, we are only better than the poorest OECD country – Mexico. This is a fact, no matter how Dr Amy Khor wants to spin her story.

During the feedback dialogue, the issue of healthcare affordability resurfaced again as government announced that premiums for the upcoming MediShield Life will likely to be increased due to the expanded coverage.

Minister Gan assured the audience that health care will remain affordable, but reminded them that staying healthy is the key to keeping costs low.

“We want to help all Singaporeans stay healthy as long as possible, and as much as possible,” he said. “Because if all of us fall sick and don’t take care of our health, we will have to continue to build more and more hospitals, and the costs will keep going up.”

 

[Leongsam]

As can be seen, Singapore’s number of hospital beds per 1,000 people actually decreased from 2007 to 2012, dropping from 2.5 to 2.2, primarily due to a burgeoning increase in population (15.8% from 2007 to 2012) versus a small increase in the number of hospital beds (just 2.7% from 2007 to 2012).

The reason why Singapore has a lower ratio is because the PAP has done an excellent job in being proactive when it comes to health.

The steps taken by the PAP and its sister organisation the PA has ensured that Singaporeans are among the healthiest people or earth. In fact many ministers often sacrifice their weekends in order to inspire Singaporeans towards leading active and healthy lifestyles.

The results speak for themselves.

 

[xingguy]

The reason why Singapore has a lower ratio is because the PAP has done an excellent job in being proactive when it comes to health.

The steps taken by the PAP and its sister organisation the PA has ensured that Singaporeans are among the healthiest people or earth. In fact many ministers often sacrifice their weekends in order to inspire Singaporeans towards leading active and healthy lifestyles.

The results speak for themselves.

*** Pics Removed ***

Yeah right.

The older generation already heed Pinky's msg to keep healthcare costs low by staying healthy.
"But the best way for us generally to keep healthcare costs down is to stay healthy and especially for older people ..."

 

[Leongsam]

Yeah right.

The older generation already heed Pinky's msg to keep healthcare costs low by staying healthy.
"But the best way for us generally to keep healthcare costs down is to stay healthy and especially for older people ..."

You can't blame the government if some Singaporeans choose to spend their time sleeping on the streets instead of exercising.

We all make personal choices in life and we have to learn to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions.

 

[kingrant]

We are always told to put every screw up, every fumble by the PAP in context with world practices. Except for how we pay our Cabinet Ministers.

 

[Leongsam]

We are always told to put every screw up, every fumble by the PAP in context with world practices. Except for how we pay our Cabinet Ministers.

They are paid competitive salaries which match their skills and their experience. You should gracefully accept the fact that they are well worth the money. Just look at how successful the country has become under their astute leadership.

 

[laksaboy]

The reason why Singapore has a lower ratio is because the PAP has done an excellent job in being proactive when it comes to health.

The steps taken by the PAP and its sister organisation the PA has ensured that Singaporeans are among the healthiest people or earth. In fact many ministers often sacrifice their weekends in order to inspire Singaporeans towards leading active and healthy lifestyles.

The results speak for themselves.

Who can forget this gem? We were forced to do the Great Singapore Workout in school countless times.


[video=youtube;VpHX2F8-RGg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpHX2F8-RGg[/video]

 

[virus]

those hand exercises are important... so that they will come in handy one day

or if moving up the corporate ladder

or when you gg to crocodile slap your opposition party members

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Amy Khor finally succumb to the dark side leow,,,singing the PAP tune all the time,,I think she will be let go in the next erection,,,she is actually the token pap oppo in parleement,,,she has criticise pap policies and kenna whack chia lat by wooden,,,now she has finally fallen...

 

[jw5]

She has never been a pap oppo, token or not lah, hahaha..............

LOL ................ LOL

Amy Khor finally succumb to the dark side leow,,,singing the PAP tune all the time,,I think she will be let go in the next erection,,,she is actually the token pap oppo in parleement,,,she has criticise pap policies and kenna whack chia lat by wooden,,,now she has finally fallen...