Best Practices for Diagnosing and Treating Patients Facing Long-Term Symptoms of COVID-19 and Available Financial Support

NOTICE PAPER NO. 879
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 10 JANUARY 2022

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim
MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC

Question No. 1381

To ask the Minister for Health whether vaccinated persons who are infected with COVID-19 and who still face long-term symptoms of COVID-19 or “Long COVID” will have their medical expenses covered by the Government and, if so, for how long.

Question No. 1382

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider implementing official guidance on best practices for diagnosing and treating patients facing long-term symptoms of COVID-19 or “Long COVID” and the available subsidies or support from specialised treatment centres for such patients.

Written Answer

‘Long COVID’ is not a distinct medical condition or a formal diagnosis and refers to persons who have lingering symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Such patients with persisting symptoms would be assessed and monitored by their physicians and where needed, they would be referred for specialist care. We have also issued guidance on the approach to patients with persistent symptoms after recovering from COVID-19, as part of broader COVID-19 clinical management guidelines.

For vaccinated Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders (SCs/PRs/LTPHs) who have recovered from acute COVID-19 infection, but continue to remain symptomatic, MOH provides coverage for follow-up Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) visits for up to 90 days post-discharge, if the follow-up is required on public health grounds. In these visits, monitoring and/or re-testing would be done to ensure that patients are no longer infectious. If other types of post-COVID care is required, patients will continue to have access to the regular healthcare financing coverage, such as Government subsidies, MediShield Life and MediSave where applicable, to help pay for their bills. Should there be affordability issues, they may also be assisted by prevailing financial assistance schemes, such as the use of MediFund, if eligible.