Polyclinic visits grew by one million between 2015 and last year, with chronic conditions such as diabetes topping the list of commonly seen ailments. The top three chronic medical conditions which accounted for more than a third of diagnoses are high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure-related ailments.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at the National Day Rally that the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) will be extended to all Singaporeans with chronic conditions, regardless of income. Dr John Cheng, Head of Primary Care and Family Physician at Healthway Medical, said that the number of Chas cardholders seeking treatment for both acute and chronic conditions at the clinics has seen a steady increase since 2015 and that Chas subsidies have certainly helped patients to ease the burden of healthcare costs.
