Extending Medisave for Screening Mammograms and Colonoscopies

30 June 2011

With effect from 1 July 2011, patients can use their Medisave for screening mammograms to screen for breast cancer and screening colonoscopies for colorectal cancers. This makes screening tests more affordable and accessible to Singaporeans.  The change will benefit around 450,000 women for mammogram screening and 1 million Singaporeans for colonoscopy screening. 

2. In March this year, the Ministry of Health accepted the screening guidelines recommended by the Screening Test Review Committee (STRC) from The Academy of Medicine Singapore. These guidelines enable patients to make informed decisions on the suitability of the various screening tests based on their age and risk profile

Screening for Breast Cancer
3. Among its recommendations, the Committee, headed by Professor Lee Hin Peng, recommends mammogram screening every two years for women between the ages of 50 years and 69 years.

4. Under the Medisave300 Scheme, patients can withdraw up to $300 from their Medisave account per year to defray the cost of their mammograms. On average, Mammograms cost around $100. Subsidised mammograms are available for Singapore citizens and PRs at participating BreastScreen Singapore centres.

Screening for Colorectal Cancer
5. Colorectal cancer is one of the top cancer killers in Singapore. The STRC had also recommended that persons aged 50 years and older be screened regularly for colorectal cancer, through either (a) annual stool analysis using the Faecal Immunohistochemistry Test (FIT); or (b) a screening colonoscopy every ten years.

6. FIT is a safer, less invasive and cheaper test compared to colonoscopy.  Under the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme, screening for colorectal cancer using FIT annually is recommended.  The FIT kits are available at  articipating Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) GP clinics under the Integrated Screening Programme (ISP).  Low-income Singaporeans are eligible to receive subsidised FIT screening from participating CDMP-GP clinics.

7. Singaporeans who choose to undergo screening colonoscopy in lieu of the FIT, and who are assessed to be fit for the procedure, may use their Medisave to reduce out-of-pocket costs. The Medisave withdrawal limit for screening colonoscopy will be pegged at the prevailing withdrawal limit for day surgery procedures. As colonoscopy is an invasive procedure, it should only be carried out by qualified specialists.

8. The list of approved mammogram screening and colonoscopy screening centres is available at the Annex. Members of the public may also check the CPF Board website to get the most up-to-date information on participating clinics.

Quality Assurance Framework and screening centres
9. To ensure that patients undergo good quality screening, healthcare providers must adhere to a common Quality Assurance framework for the screenings. The framework covers aspects such as patient safety, staff competency and clinical quality requirements.

List of Approved Screening Centres