REMARKS BY MDM RAHAYU MAHZAM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION, AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT TASKFORCE ON ASSURANCE FOR FAMILIES WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PRESS CONFERENCE, 2 OCTOBER 2026

          Good afternoon. Firstly, could I just acknowledge my colleagues because it has been for me personally, a very meaningful opportunity and very heartening to work with the team, and also my colleagues from the different ministries. There was a lot of hard work, but there's a lot of heart pouring into these efforts to try and improve support for those with special needs and their families. And above all, we've mentioned it repeatedly that we are very grateful to the individuals, the families, the organisations, and the people in the community that we spoke to because they gave us a really deep understanding of their experiences and their concerns.  

2           And in healthcare in particular, there were a few recurring themes. The first is that they express the desire to have access to healthcare services that are inclusive, that is accessible, that will accommodate their diverse needs. So, we have spoken to many different individuals, and those who have intellectual disabilities or autism, their families tell us that sometimes it's very difficult for them to seek treatment. Sometimes they feel that they're not heard, or that there's not enough time taken to listen to their needs.  

3           There are also families who perhaps have children with more complex needs, and need high support because they have more serious disabilities, and it's very hard for them to bring their children to the healthcare institutions to seek treatment, they may need us to accommodate them a little bit. So, these are some of the concerns that they've raised. 

4           And of course, we've also heard concerns relating to the financing burden that they face because of the expenses that they have to pay for - caregiving, for therapies, for assistive devices.  

5           In considering some of the concerns that they have raised, one key move that we want to make is to make sure that the support in accessing healthcare services is strengthened, and that they are given the assurance that they are going to be able to navigate the healthcare system now. We are focusing on those with intellectual disabilities and autism, because these are some of the less visible disabilities, and they may have some specific concerns when they're accessing our healthcare system. So, what are some of the things that we are going to move with? 

6           First, we will be from 2027, equipping all polyclinics with the capabilities to address and support the needs of those with disabilities in terms of having them actually be supported as they are  accessing the service. The frontline staff will be trained in communication, in understanding some of the common issues that may arise, in actually understanding basic communication skills with those in this group, so perhaps giving them more time, listening to them a bit more. We also want to make sure that they feel empowered and confident in actually handling some of the distress or some of the issues that may arise. So, that is the first layer of support that we will be giving and make available in all polyclinics.  

7           Second, we are also looking at introducing a Health Communication Passport. We will be working together with SG Enable and the different organisations. We will be starting off in selected polyclinics to make sure there is a platform where they can actually articulate their healthcare needs, the support that they need when they're seeking healthcare. And that will be something that we hope will provide some ease as they navigate the healthcare system and seek treatment.  

8           The third one, which is something that is a little bit more extensive, is really to provide more significant accommodations for those who have really more significant needs. So, by 2028, we are going to have at least one polyclinic in each cluster be equipped with the ability to actually accommodate some of the needs of those with more specific needs. This will include pre-visit preparations. We may need more consultations with the patients and caregivers. Some longer consultation times may be allocated to them, and there will be closer caregiver engagements. This is more enhanced support and practical accommodations that we will make for some of these families, and hopefully with these, then the teams within each polyclinic will also help facilitate linkages with relevant disability services. 

9           So these are some of the moves that we will make. And while these measures we know mark a significant improvement and important step forward, we also recognise that there are also still some concerns and needs, and there will be more that we can do. In the coming years, we'll continue to look at what are some of the hurdles or barriers for those who are seeking healthcare in our public healthcare institutions, and also understanding what are some of the concerns in long-term care needs. We will also be looking at how we can address concerns relating to longer-term healthcare support and costs, and improve our healthcare system so that we can better serve  persons with disabilities and their families. So we know that this is an ongoing conversation. The conversation does not end here. We will continue to build on these efforts to create a healthcare system that is more accessible and more inclusive.