Speech by Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Patient Care Centre Biennial Charity Dinner

A/Prof Thomas Lew, Chairman, Medical Board, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Ms Eunice Toh, Executive Director, Community Fund, Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening.

1.    I am pleased to join you today at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Patient Care Centre Biennial Charity Dinner.

HIV/AIDS Remains a Public Health Concern

2.    While many inroads have been made in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, it remains a global public health concern today. Since the first case of HIV in 1981, almost 78 million people have been infected and about half have died of AIDS worldwide. At the end of 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that there were about 37 million people living with HIV.

3.    In Singapore, we have seen around 450 newly diagnosed HIV cases annually in recent years and almost half of whom were diagnosed with late-stage infections. Fear and stigma surrounding the HIV positive diagnosis still remains, preventing many people from going for early testing, care and treatment. Patients have shared their stories of how they concealed their positive diagnosis from family and friends, for fear of stigmatisation and rejection. As a result, they face the daily challenges of living with HIV alone, with no help or support from their loved ones. Such isolation of persons living with HIV can take a heavy psychological and emotional toll on them.

Patient Care Centre’s Work

4.    I am heartened to hear of the good work by TTSH’s Patient Care Centre (PCC) over the years, since its establishment in 1997. Thanks to strong support from corporations and individual volunteers who contribute valuable time and donations, the PCC has been able to run many helpful programmes for persons living with HIV. These include peer support programmes to rebuild their self-esteem and equip them with life skills to integrate into society. The PCC has also extended financial help to needy patients in various ways, in the form of subsides for nutritional needs, diagnostic tests and antiretroviral medications. These efforts by the PCC complement the Government’s efforts at the national level to make HIV treatment more affordable for Singaporeans, so that cost does not deter persons living with HIV from seeking treatment and remaining on treatment. Individuals can tap on up to $550 per month from their Medisave to pay for their ARV, and Medifund covers the cost of treatment for needy patients. Since September last year, we have also introduced means-tested subsidies for HIV medication, which benefit lower to middle-income patients at our public hospitals and institutions. As at March this year, more than 570 applications had received assistance from this subsidy scheme. These various forms of assistance have, together, enabled those who require treatment to access treatment, and have helped to relieve some of the financial burdens of people living with HIV.  

5.    PCC has also organised activities and projects for HIV patients to give back to society.  Through these opportunities, persons living with HIV have been able to help other needy groups, including those with mental illness, and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. I find this particularly meaningful and restorative.

6.    Such all-rounded support and opportunity-creation makes a tangible, positive difference in the lives of persons living with HIV. I would like to thank all in the audience today for your unwavering dedication to caring for this group of patients, and helping them to find meaning and dignity as they carry on living. I am certain that your contributions, in big and small ways, have touched and transformed many lives for the better.

Call for Continued Support

7.    On this occasion, I would like to congratulate TTSH PCC on its 19 years of faithful service to the HIV community in Singapore. The National HIV/AIDS Policy Committee will continue our high-level engagement with stakeholders to tackle cross-cutting HIV-related issues, complementing your good work on the ground. As chairperson of the Committee, I look forward to your continued support as we work together to improve the care of persons living with HIV, and to reduce stigma and discrimination. It is my hope that we will be inspired today to renew our commitment to many more years of fruitful partnership.

8.    I wish you all a pleasant evening.

Thank you.