CHAS benefits 1.2 million Singaporeans
There are now 1.2 million Singaporeans benefiting from the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) — more than double from a year ago — while the number of participating general practitioners and dental clinics has increased from about 1,000 a year ago to about 1,300 today.
There are now 1.2 million Singaporeans benefiting from the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) — more than double from a year ago — while the number of participating general practitioners and dental clinics has increased from about 1,000 a year ago to about 1,300 today.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announced this yesterday as he launched a pilot by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to help residents locate the right services for their healthcare needs in Tampines via a localised map. The pilot was launched at the CHAS Family Carnival at Tampines Community Plaza and was attended by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also adviser to the Tampines Grassroots Organisations.
The increase in beneficiaries, said Mr Gan, is the result of recent moves to broaden the eligibility criteria of the scheme. Last year, CHAS was opened up to all ages and the income cap for eligibility was raised to a monthly household income per person of S$1,800.
The localised maps for Tampines show the health and community care services in the five constituencies in Tampines — Tampines East, Tampines West, Tampines North, Tampines Central and Changkat — and highlight information on the locations, contact details and operating hours of the community and healthcare services, including all CHAS clinics.
The maps are available at community centres in Tampines.
If successful, the scheme may be extended to other constituencies, said AIC deputy chief executive officer Wong Kirk Chuan, adding that the map is particularly useful for those with limited Internet access. YVONNE LIM