By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 12 March 2015]
The large number of patients who drop out of prescribed rehabilitation programmes after being discharged from hospitals has been an issue of concern. A study conducted between 2002 and 2005 found that 1 in 3 patients continued with supervised rehabilitation after being discharged.
The problem seems to have worsened – it was reported last year that the number of patients who returned for supervised rehabilitation had dropped to 1 in 5. Patients who do not go for regular rehabilitation especially in the first 3-6 months after discharge may not recover fully. They also risk deterioration of their physical functions and more frequent hospitalisation in the future. I would like to seek the view of MOH on the above situation.
MOH has said that they have looked into providing home-based rehabilitation services and subsidies have been made available from April 2014 to patients who wish to use these services. How many patients are currently utilising this home-based service?
The lack of manpower and infrastructural capacity in our Intermediate and Long-term Care sectors are problems that have been with us for the past 10 years. The demand for rehabilitation services will only increase with a rapidly ageing population. I hope the Ministry will share its roadmap to meet the rising demand for rehabilitation services.
In terms of manpower, it was reported in 2011 that Singapore would require at least 1,500 physiotherapists by 2015. Have we achieved this target? There were also plans to tap the pool of retirees and home-makers to train them as para-occupational therapists. Can the Minister give us an update on these plans? Are they effective in addressing manpower needs in the sector?