The surge in healthcare demand was led by individuals aged 18 to 64 seeking care for symptoms tied to poor air quality. In response, a specialized subsidy scheme capped treatment fees at $10 for eligible citizens across participating private clinics and public polyclinics. However, the Ministry of Health does not track haze-specific healthcare expenditures due to the difficulty of separating environmental exposure from the concurrent influenza season. Amid these diagnostic challenges, physicians have focused on adjusting medications and ensuring vulnerable patients maintain access to essential inhalers.
Key points
Working-age adults between the ages of 18 and 64 accounted for the largest rise in health…: Working-age adults between the ages of 18 and 64 accounted for the largest rise in healthcare attendances.
Subsidized care allowed eligible Singapore citizens to pay no more than $10 for haze-rela…: Subsidized care allowed eligible Singapore citizens to pay no more than $10 for haze-related consultations and treatments.
A concurrent influenza season prevents health authorities from precisely tracking the med…: A concurrent influenza season prevents health authorities from precisely tracking the medical costs caused specifically by the haze.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Hospitals and polyclinics saw about 20% more visits in early haze, with emergency attendances rising from 360 to 440 a day and polyclinic visits from 4,000 to 5,000.
- Over 113,000 people used the haze subsidy scheme from Oct 12 to Oct 24. Eligible citizens paid no more than $10 for haze-related treatment.
- The Health Ministry said demand fell after subsidies began. Doctors will support patients with breathing problems, but MOH does not track haze healthcare costs separately.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Hospitals’ emergency departments (EDs) and polyclinics received 20% and 25% more visits respectively for conditions potentially related to the haze from the start of September to mid-October.
An average of about 440 attendances were recorded at the EDs each day as at mid-October.
This marked an increase of about 20% from the daily average of 360 attendances in early September, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a written parliamentary reply on Nov 3.
At polyclinics, the average daily attendances increased from about 4,000 to 5,000 across the same time period.
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