Subsidised wards cater to essential patient needs

MOH's reply

Subsidised wards cater to essential patient needs

We thank Madam Lily Ong for her letter (Air-con in subsidised wards a necessity, June 3) and other writers for their letters on the same issue.

Our public hospitals provide safe, affordable and effective care to patients. To keep subsidised wards affordable for patients, they are designed to cater to essential patient needs.

Patients who prefer air-conditioned accommodation may opt for A or B1 ward types.

Over the years, improvements have been made to the design and infrastructure in the subsidised wards of newer public hospitals for better patient safety and comfort.

They meet the Building and Construction Authority's Green Mark Platinum certification.

This requires naturally ventilated spaces, including subsidised wards, to meet thermal comfort requirements such as air temperature, air movement and humidity.

Newer hospitals also have fewer patient beds and an en suite toilet in each room.

Some older hospitals have infrastructure constraints, and they have implemented mitigating measures such as spot cooling to bring down the ambient temperature in specific locations, including subsidised wards.

All public hospitals also take additional measures when the environmental conditions warrant them, such as in the event of a sustained severe haze.

We will continue to review and improve the design and infrastructure of public hospitals, while bearing in mind cost implications so as to ensure Singaporeans' continued access to affordable healthcare.

Low Chian Siong
Director, Infrastructure Planning & Policy Division
Ministry of Health

Forum Letter

Air-con in subsidised wards a necessity

In the sweltering heat that is blanketing Singapore, while many can seek refuge in air-conditioned spaces, there are some patients in hospitals recovering from their illness or surgical procedures who are not so lucky.

A significant proportion of these patients in Class C wards are the elderly.

Among the benefits in the Pioneer Generation Package, perhaps equipping such wards with air-conditioning should be included.

For a country as rich and prosperous, and as hot and humid, as Singapore, air-conditioning is less of a luxury but more of a basic necessity, especially with global warming on the rise.

Also, severe haze is projected by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs to find its way back to Singapore this year.

This will most certainly bring about health complications for the population, especially those lying next to open windows and recuperating from health issues.

As for concerns about electricity costs, installing solar panels could help with bringing the electricity overheads down over the long run.

As for concerns about overconsumption of healthcare, I believe the co-payment model, when coupled with repercussions on overtreatment by physicians, will go a good way towards deterrence.

Until we render the vulnerable and the aged in the community a suitable level of comfort at a time when they need it most, we can't truly think of ourselves as a progressive nation.

The Straits Times, 3 June 2019
Lily Ong