Extending Primary Care Partnership Scheme to more chronic diseases

10 Oct 2010

From 1 April 2011, the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) will cover 5 more chronic diseases: Stroke, Asthma, COPD, Schizophrenia and Major Depression.  Currently, PCPS covers Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Lipid Disorders.

With the expanded coverage, about 8,000 Singaporeans, especially those with co-morbidity, will benefit from PCPS. Under PCPS, these patients can receive outpatient care in their neighbourhood GPs, at rates comparable to polyclinics.  They will be subsidised by the Government as if they were treated in polyclinics.  This makes it more convenient for these elderly patients, giving them more choices on where they wish to be treated. 

There are about 28,500 PCPS card holders, mostly the elderly. Last year, GPs served nearly 60,000 clinic attendances for these patients (52,991 for acute medical condition and 6,704 for chronic disease management).  The GPs received about $1.2 million in subsidies funded by the Government, reducing the medical expenses of these patients.

Chronic Disease Management Programme update shows positive outcomes of care

Meanwhile, we are making progress, after 3 years of the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) whereby patients with common chronic diseases are treated by polyclinics and GPs on protocols established as international best practices. Our review shows that patients get better health outcomes if they work closely with their family physicians to actively manage their diseases through regular monitoring, appropriate medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

Since 2006, they also benefit from Medisave300, as they can use their Medisave to help pay for the outpatient treatment of their chronic diseases.  

For diabetes, nearly half of the patients with poorly controlled haemoglobin A1c had well controlled levels a year later. Patients who adhere longer to the treatment protocols programme benefited more.  For example, CDMP patients with Diabetes staying for 12 months or more on the Programme had a lower rate of disease-related hospitalisations than those staying for less than 12 months.

As of 31 December 2009, 123,744 patients (making 1,059,151 attendances) had used Medisave300 for Chronic Disease Management.

For more information, please refer to the MOH Information paper entitled ‘Medisave for Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) – The Third Year’.

Ministry of Health