THE Quality Lifestyle Department (QLD) has a clear priority in its work target: advocating for seamless and affordable healthcare benefits. “What is needed is a scheme of medical benefits that is tied to individual and not job-based or project-based”, said QLD director Yeo Guat Kwang.
A nationwide basic medical insurance scheme for the implementation of portable medical benefits is part of its focus on such benefits, to help workers cope with the uncertain world of non-lasting employment.
Workers can then carry over such medical benefits year to year, employer to employer, keeping the protection even when they change jobs. Pooling health risks on a national rather than on a company basis is also more efficient, and can help keep premiums down.
Singapore’s medical expenditure soared from $1.3 billion in 1990 to $5.6 billion in 2001, a result of an ageing growing population and higher medical costs.
However, implementing portable medical benefits may not be that straightforward, even though the advantages are compelling, said Mr Yeo.
“With our tripartite partners, we hope to formulate a medical benefits system to better meet the needs of workers and employers as soon as possible,” said Mr Yeo, adding that he hoped the tripartite partners can “move at a greater pace” and quickly find a way to integrate the existing employer-based medical coverage with Medishield to reduce duplication.
Moreover, if workers are healthy, their quality of living will be enhanced since they will be able to take part in activities that bring out their full potential.
Thus, QLD will also work to strengthen existing Workplace Health programmes like Healthy Eating, Keep Fit, Stress Management and Smoking Cessation, to help workers manage their lifestyle habits, and reduce risk for chronic illnesses, as well as improve industrial safety and reduce occupational, health and safety hazards at work.
