
Singapore public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes
SINGAPORE: Public healthcare institutions have been told to record all suspected and confirmed etomidate-linked vaping cases, in a sign that the health authorities are treating vapes laced with etomidate more seriously.
In a circular dated July 9, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said medical practitioners should also get patients to surrender their e-vapourisers and consider sending their urine samples for testing.
This is because both authorities noticed a worrying increase in the number of e-vapoUrisers detected containing etomidate in Singapore between 2024 and 2025.
Such devices are also known as 'Kpods', which the authorities have recently intensified crackdowns on.
The circular highlighted the report in March by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which said etomidate had been notably detected in illicit drug markets in East and South-East Asia.
Etomidate is a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent and is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act. This means a licence is required for its importation or sale.
Etomidate found in vapes or supplied in oil capsules or formulations to be inhaled directly into users' lungs are not medical products and are prohibited.
Under the Act, those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$10,000 (US$7,798), or both.
MOH and HSA said that because of the rising concerns, they are studying the harm and addictiveness of etomidate use in vapes, through those who seek medical attention.
These studies will inform and shape policy, including whether existing regulations need to be tightened or amended.
On July 12, MOH and the Ministry of Home Affairs said they were considering further steps to better address the vaping issue, including whether current laws for enforcement could be enhanced.
The number of cases involving etomidate-laced vape pods has nearly tripled in Singapore to 28 cases in the first six months of 2025, compared with ten in the whole of 2024.
The MOH-HSA circular was addressed to emergency departments, urgent care centres, departments of psychiatry of public healthcare institutions, and the National Addictions Management Service Centre at the Institute of Mental Health.
In it, the authorities said medical practitioners should reassure patients that enforcement actions will not be taken against them for previous vape use if they voluntarily come forward to seek medical help.
Medical practitioners were told to observe symptoms and signs like seizures, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, coughing, arrhythmias and thermal injury to airways.
In the circular, the authorities invoked powers under the Healthcare Services Act, requiring licensed medical practitioners to comply with the instructions.
Those who fail to do so can be jailed for up to a year and fined up to S$10,000.
During medical consultation, medical practitioners should confiscate the vapes, place them in ziplock bags and lock them up.
They should also consider sending patients' urine samples to HSA for toxicology testing.
MOH and HSA said members of the public who have sought assistance through the Health Promotion Board's QuitLine may be directed to seek medical help at public health institutions' emergency departments.
After treatment, these emergency departments may refer patients to the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000 for continued support.
Participants of HPB's I Quit programme need not worry about being fined or prosecuted, as it does not presume they have or use vaping products.
But if they are caught using or possessing such items, then they will be prosecuted.
MOH and HSA previously said more than S$41 million worth of vapes and related components were seized between January 2024 and March 2025.
More than 14,600 people were caught by the authorities in 2024, compared with 4,916 in 2022. - The Straits Times/ANN

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malaysia Sun
8 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
$10mn of USAID contraceptives to be burned in France media
The shipment destined for poor nations ended up stuck in Europe due to the shutdown of the agency A $10 million shipment of US-funded contraceptives will be incinerated in France, after Washington rejected offers to send the supplies to poorer nations, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The stockpile - made up of birth control pills and implants - has been stuck in Belgium since early 2025, when President Donald Trump shut down USAID and froze foreign aid programs. The supplies were originally meant for distribution in developing countries. A State Department spokesperson confirmed the destruction plan, saying the disposal will cost around $167,000 and take place at a medical waste facility in France. The contraceptives are being stored in the city of Geel and will require dozens of truckloads and at least two weeks to move, sources told Reuters. Belgian authorities have attempted to prevent the destruction of the supplies yet ultimately failed to do so, having exhausted "all possible options to prevent the destruction, including temporary relocation." "Despite these efforts, and with full respect for our partners, no viable alternative could be secured. Nevertheless, Belgium continues to actively seek solutions to avoid this regrettable outcome," the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that "sexual and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints." Human rights groups that attempted to buy the supplies from Washington have also suggested the impending destruction is being driven by "ideological" motives rather than a desire to cut costs. Sarah Shaw, Associate Director of Advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, told Reuters the NGO approached Washington with an offer to pay for repackaging of the supplies without USAID branding and for shipment to their destinations, but the proposal was declined. "MSI offered to pay for repackaging, shipping, and import duties, but they were not open to that... We were told that the US government would only sell the supplies at the full market value," said Shaw. "This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights, and one that is already harming women," she added. The UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, also reportedly offered to buy the shipment. The talks ultimately broke down, partially due to a lack of response from the US government, a source with direct knowledge told Reuters. (

Barnama
12 hours ago
- Barnama
Pasir Gudang Hospital To Begin Operations After Achieving 50 Pct Readiness
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Pasir Gudang Hospital (HPG) in Johor will begin operations after it reaches at least 50 per cent readiness, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the Ministry of Health (MOH) is carrying out meticulous preparations with the Johor government to ensure basic amenities, medical equipment and human resources are sufficient before the hospital begins operations. "The Johor Menteri Besar and I agreed to ensure that we achieve at least around 50 per cent readiness, not just in terms of the physical building, but also equipment and human resources, before fully operating,' he told a media conference after launching the Malaysian Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026 here today. Dzulkefly also said that the hospital staff intake process is expected to be completed by the end of this year or the first quarter of 2026, at the latest. "The state government will try to give whatever assistance it can to the MOH to ensure all human resources supply can be met by at least 50 per cent for us to begin operations,' he said. Previously, the HPG - a 20.6-hectare facility located in Bandar Seri Alam that is equipped with 304 beds and offering 14 specialist services - was reported to be ready to start operating in phases from Aug 1. Meanwhile, Dzulkefly expressed his gratitude following the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday that the government will expedite the filling of over 4,000 positions at public health facilities, including contract appointments for doctors. "We are extremely grateful because we have received 4,253 positions, and just recently received the official letter from the Public Services Commission (SPA) regarding the matter. "We will immediately work on filling the positions, especially to push for the transition of the status of doctors and health workers from contract for service to contract of service and eventually to permanent positions,' he said.

Barnama
12 hours ago
- Barnama
MOH Conducting Maldistribution Studies On Permanent Placement Of Medical Officers
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting maldistribution studies to scrutinise the placement of medical officers at health facilities nationwide, said its Deputy Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni. For example, he said the MOH had offered 650 permanent positions in Sabah and Sarawak, but nearly 600 medical officers submitted appeal letters to be released from their postings in both states. "Only seven medical officers clicked on the permanent positions.. So, how can we help and uphold the rights of the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan? Should we place all medical officers in the Klang Valley or urban areas only? "We must consider the human rights of all Malaysians appropriately. Nonetheless, we are working on ways to increase the number of permanent positions for deserving medical officers,' he said. He said this when winding up the debate on the motion for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statement at the Dewan Rakyat here today. Meanwhile, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the Gig Workers Bill 2025, scheduled to be tabled during this sitting, specifically emphasises four main components - the definition of gig workers, income, dispute resolution mechanism and social security. He said the bill introduces a structured dispute resolution mechanism as an official channel for gig workers to present any issues or unfairness regarding their services, thus allowing the complaints to be addressed systematically. "The dispute resolution process can be done through several stages, namely through internal mechanisms, conciliation proceedings, and, if unresolved, it can be brought before the gig worker tribunal,' he said when winding up the debate on the report for the ministry. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, meanwhile, said the ministry is ready to study the feasibility of regulating e-hailing fares based on the findings and recommendations of the Klang Valley Land Public Transport Strategic Plan (PSPALK), which is expected to be finalised at the end of this year.