2024 is over: The year's biggest health stories and what's next

Singapore – Continued woes faced by Singapore's oldest private umbilical cord blood bank; increased scrutiny of telemedicine providers; Remain focused on preparing for the next pandemic is one of the major issues related to healthcare in Singapore in 2024.

Here are the top five health topics of 2024 and what to expect in 2025.

1. Prepare the nation for the next pandemic

The revision of the Infectious Diseases Act is Passed in MarchIt is intended to enable the Republic to address public health threats of varying severity.

In addition to the more dire public health emergencies, a new intermediate state called a public health threat has been introduced.

These changes effectively replace the previous color-coded Disease Outbreak Response System Conditions (Dorscon) framework.

In September, the country also Strengthened defenses against mpoxformerly known as monkeypox, after the World Health Organization declared the disease a global public health emergency for the first time in two years.

These include immediate contact tracing of close contacts of confirmed mpox clade I cases, as well as free vaccination of healthcare workers and close contacts of confirmed cases who are at highest risk of exposure to mpox.

On December 21, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore was focusing on four diseases as part of its pandemic preparedness: H5N1 avian influenza, COVID-19 and the mpox clade. Iand the mystery disease in Congo has since been identified by the Congolese Ministry of Health as a severe condition. malaria.

2. Telemedicine is under greater scrutiny

Telemedicine, which gained popularity amid the safe management measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, will come under increased scrutiny in 2024.

On December 20, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced: Revoking the license of MaNaDr ClinicThe company's services also include telephone consultations, citing a “deep-rooted culture of disregard for applicable ethical and clinical standards.”

The Ministry of Health cited a number of cases involving very short telephone consultations, with the shortest lasting just one second.

Separately, the ministry announced in early December that it was investigating the possibility of losing the provision of online consultations through telemedicine platforms.

This follows a Straits Times investigation into seven platforms offering the popular weight loss drug, which found two instances where cameras were not turned on during medical consultations.

However, Mr Ong said: No need to review existing telemedicine standards or requirementsbecause enforcement is effective in dealing with errant operators.

3. Code life has no lifeline.

exposed to criticism in late 2023 Expires at storage facility After it was revealed, Code Life's woes continued into 2024.

In April, the Ministry of Health said that after further testing, approximately 5,300 cord bloods held at Singapore's longest-running cord blood bank were non-viable and may not be suitable for stem cell transplant purposes. It was revealed that he was judged to have a high level of sexuality.

This is in addition to damage to 2,150 customers' cord blood units discovered in November 2023.

Such a blunder is Hundreds of parents are seeking legal action They will compete against Code Life in the first half of 2024.

in 2024, 8 leaders of companies in troubleHe was arrested on suspicion of breaching the company's disclosure obligations regarding the mishandling of its umbilical cord blood division, which involved former group chief executive Tan Po Lan.

As a result of a complete review of Code Life's facilities and operations, Cord blood banking services allowed to resume However, conditions include receiving no more than 30 new umbilical cord blood per month for the first six months.

However, Code Life is reportedly not out of the woods yet. Third quarter net loss of $1.6 million In November.

4. New hospital model as medical capacity increases

The Ministry of Health announced its intention to introduce it in January. New non-profit private acute care hospital modelpointed out the need to increase the capacity of acute care beds in Singapore as the demand for medical services increases due to Singapore's aging population.

Once opened, the facility will be the second private nonprofit acute care hospital in the Republic. Mount Alvernia Hospital.

Other initiatives to address Singapore's growing healthcare needs in 2024 include: Woodlands Health CampusOfficially opened in July, it has 1,800 beds and serves northern and northwestern Singapore. Khatib General Hospital – The 26th general hospital in the country, serving approximately 80,000 residents, opened in May.

5. Expanding the Nutri-Grade scheme

MOH has announced that the labeling requirements for Nutrigrade will be as follows: Expanded to 4 other products – Offering pre-packed salt, sauces and seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oils with the aim of reducing people's intake of salt and saturated fat and reducing the risk of health problems such as heart attacks and strokes. I am.

This is: Successful use of such labels can result in Prepackaged and freshly prepared drinks are graded from A to D, with D being the least healthy option.

In September, This plan defined Singapore 2024 World Health Organization Healthy Cities Recognition Award. The award is given to eight cities in Asia for their outstanding achievements in promoting health and well-being.

According to the 2022 National Nutrition Survey, 9 out of 10 people are here Exceeding the recommended limit for sodium 2,000mg per day.

Looking to the future

1. Changes to the MediShield Life store

From April 2025, Singaporeans will be able to claim higher payments for hospital stays, in addition to compensation for additional outpatient treatments and certain new breakthrough treatments. Changes to the National Insurance System MediShield Life.

The changes, first announced in October, include increasing the daily billing limit for inpatients from $1,000 to $1,630 for the first two days of a regular hospital stay, while increasing the daily charge limit for intensive care unit stays. The billing limit will more than double to $5,140.

The revisions will also increase MediShield life insurance premiums, but most Singaporeans will help will be available These increases were more than offset by the government's $4.1 billion support package.

2. Further mental health support

A new National Mental Health Authority, made up of staff from the Ministries of Health, Education, Social Welfare and Family Development, will be fully established by 2025 and will be responsible for implementing the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and for the future development of mental health care. I plan to supervise it.

new National Mental Health Helpline and Textline Service Services for people facing mental distress will be available by mid-2025, with trained counselors to address common mental health concerns and easy access by phone or text message. You will be able to receive counseling.

1st quarter 2025 I'll see you again Launch of guidelineshas been developed by the Workplace Health and Safety Council to help employers support staff with mental health issues.

Employers unsure of how to support staff with mental health problems will be able to access advice from a set of guidelines.

3. Expansion of Project Wolbachia

In 2025, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will study the possibility of expanding the use of Wolbachia technology.

Project Wolbachia, which has been running since 2016, is currently testing lab-raised male mosquitoes (infected with Wolbachia bacteria to prevent reproduction) to reduce the risk of dengue fever in order to control the mosquito population. Released in high areas.

NEA plans to deploy Wolbachia aegypti to selected large, rapidly growing clusters to suppress transmission in these areas. Complement other methods to control dengue cluster growth.

580,000 households are expected to subscribe in the first quarter Covered by Project WolbachiaThis is a step towards the goal set out by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Foo in November to cover 800,000 households (about 50 per cent of Singapore's total households) by 2026.

4. Further consideration for the elderly

By 2025, Singapore will 220 active aging centersserves seniors by providing recreational activities and social support, as well as introducing them to care services across the island.

This will enable eight out of 10 older people to be active closer to home, ahead of the country's “super-elderly'' status, with 21 per cent of the population aged 65 and over by 2026.

As Singapore's population ages rapidly, the number of home-based palliative care facilities will increase to 3,600 by the end of 2025, giving more people access to palliative care. Spend your last day in the comfort of your own home.

To enhance care support for the elderly, enhanced home personal care services will be rolled out across the island by the end of 2025, providing support with activities such as meals and housework, as well as technology to detect falls and falls. Utilized monitoring and response elements will be provided. Incident.

5. Genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia

MOH to be launched by mid-2025 National Genetic Testing Program for Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)It is an inherited disease that affects the body's ability to process cholesterol and increases the risk of heart disease.

Approximately 20,000 people in Singapore have FH, of which less than 10% are diagnosed.

Under the program, people with abnormally high cholesterol levels will undergo FH genetic testing at a new genomic evaluation center.

People diagnosed with FH will receive support from Healthyer SG clinics to help them adopt a healthier lifestyle and begin subsidized cholesterol-lowering therapy.

If this program is successful, similar programs will be developed for other major serious diseases such as diabetes and kidney failure.

• Zaki Abdullah is a correspondent for The Straits Times. He occasionally covers science, the environment, technology, and Islamic issues, as well as focusing on health.

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