Community Health Assist Scheme

5 August 2014

Question No. 65

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Mary Liew

Nominated MP

Question:

To ask the Minister for Health what are the Ministry's plans to (i) engage employers to be aware and to encourage their employees to sign up for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS); and (ii) encourage employers to extend the permissible medical certificates beyond company-appointed medical doctors to all clinics listed under CHAS.

Answer:

1        The Ministry of Health, through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), has been working with public and private sector unions and increasing our engagement of employers to promote awareness of the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). As the Public Service is a large employer, AIC engaged different government agencies, as well as relevant unions, and tailored the outreach to their employees or members.  Their outreach includes conducting talks and roadshows, distributing mailers and CHAS application forms, featuring CHAS in organisation newsletters, and displaying CHAS posters in common areas.

2        We will continue to reach out to and encourage more Singaporeans to sign up for the scheme, and would like to encourage employers to help to spread awareness of CHAS in their organisations, so that their employees can benefit.

3        The Ministry of Health also encourages employers to recognise medical certificates issued by any registered doctor, for the purpose of being absent from work due to illness.