How close is Singapore’s healthcare system to its breaking point?
SINGAPORE - Six months ago, Indian hospitals turned away Covid-19 patients and pleaded for oxygen as supplies ran desperately low. A year before that, exhausted Italian doctors were forced to choose who to save among the many who needed intensive care. These scenes have played out in hospitals all over the world, whenever a new wave of infections threatens to swamp a country's healthcare system. Singapore's healthcare system is world-class. But now it, too, is being stretched to its limit. On Wednesday, the multi-ministerial task force tackling the pandemic said Covid-19 restrictions will be extended until Nov 21, as the system faces a "considerable risk of... being overwhelmed". Already, hospitals have postponed follow-up visits and elective operations to accommodate the rising number of Covid-19 patients, creating a backlog that will take months to clear. How close is Singapore's healthcare system to its breaking point? Singapore has chosen to maintain its stance rather than reverting to stricter measures, and that is one indication of where the country stands, said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. "I would say the healthcare system is un...
PM Lee Hsien Loong urges senior citizens not to delay Covid-19 vaccination
SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged seniors to get the Covid-19 vaccination and not wait until it is too late, addressing about 200,000 seniors aged 60 and above who have yet to receive their jabs. In a Facebook post on Saturday (July 24), PM Lee said seniors were at risk of Covid-19 even if they did not go out much as they could catch the virus from friends or family, adding that the disease is dangerous for older people. He said that Covid-19 is even more dangerous for seniors with other medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. "The vaccine will protect you from Covid-19. Some people may experience side effects, but these are mostly not serious," said PM Lee, 69, who completed his vaccination at Singapore General Hospital on Jan 29. "You may feel unwell for a day or two, but you will be okay. It is just your body building up its immunity against Covid-19," he said in a video recording about the safety of the vaccine. On Monday, it was reported that seniors aged 70 and above have a vaccine take-up rate of about 70 per cent. Seniors can walk in to any polyclinic or vaccination centre to get their jab without registration or booking beforehand, PM Lee...
Temasek Foundation, firms donate over 11,000 oxygen concentrators to help Indonesia tackle Covid-19
SINGAPORE - Temasek Foundation is among Singaporean and Indonesian entities donating more than 11,000 oxygen concentrators to support Indonesia's fight against Covid-19. The first batch of 1,500 units is slated to arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 13) and Wednesday, said the foundation in a statement on Tuesday. More will be progressively delivered over the next few weeks, it added. The oxygen concentrators, which are medical-grade, non-invasive breathing aids, will be deployed by Indonesia's Ministry of Health to hospitals to treat patients with respiratory conditions. The country reported 40,427 Covid-19 cases and 891 deaths on Monday, bringing its total so far to more than 2.5 million cases and 67,355 deaths. The Indonesian authorities extended Covid-19 restrictions to 15 new locations across the archipelago last Friday. In densely populated Java, hospitals are being pushed to the limit, oxygen supplies are low, and four of five designated Covid-19 burial grounds in capital Jakarta are running out of space. Contributors to the donation drive include Bakti Barito Foundation, Indies Capital Partners, Sinar Mas, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, DBS Bank and telco Singtel. Said Mr Piyus...