S'poreans can test for genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels under new programme
The new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
S'poreans can test for genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels under new programme
SINGAPORE - Eligible Singapore residents will be able to screen for a genetic condition which causes high cholesterol levels at a subsidised rate as part of a nationwide programme launching on June 30.
In a statement on June 19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore.
The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions.
FH is a hereditary condition that impacts the body's ability to process cholesterol, affecting roughly 20,000 people in Singapore.
People with the condition are up to 20 times more likely to experience heart attacks at a younger age compared with the general population.
In a Facebook post on June 19, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the Government is looking to expand preventive care based on genetic testing to more diseases beyond FH.
'It is part of our longer term effort to develop predictive preventive care under Healthier SG,' he said.
As part of this effort, the ministry aims to open three genomic assessment centres (GACs) to ensure effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of genetic testing services within each healthcare cluster.
Genetics testing for FH at these centres will be subsidised for eligible Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs). They can also tap on MediSave to offset the cost.
Those referred to GACs will undergo:
Pre-test genetic counselling to understand potential outcomes and benefits before consenting to the test
Blood drawing and the genetic test
Post-test genetic counselling, to understand the implications of the results
The first GAC will be operated by SingHealth and located at the National Heart Centre. It will start accepting referrals from June 30.
This centre will serve all Singapore residents until additional centres open. GACs operated by National Healthcare Group and National University Health System will subsequently open to cater to residents' needs.
Immediate family members of those found with the condition are at risk and encouraged to undergo genetic testing, MOH said.
Known as cascade screening, this process enables early detection of FH within families.
It also allows for timelier intervention and treatment, such as advising them to adopt healthier lifestyles or starting on cholesterol-lowering therapies.
Referral criteria and charges
Under the programme, Singapore citizens and PRs with abnormally high cholesterol levels may be referred by their doctors for genetic testing.
Eligible Singaporeans and PRs can receive subsidies of up to 70 per cent for the costs, which include the genetic tests, pre-test and post-test counselling, and phlebotomy services .
Seniors from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation are also eligible for additional subsidies.
After subsidies, referred patients can expect to pay between $117 and $575 . Those eligible for cascade screening can expect to pay between $53 and $253 after subsidies.
The MediSave500 and MediSave700 scheme can be used to further offset the cost of the genetic test after subsidies.
Patients who are 60 years old and above may also use Flexi-MediSave to further defray out of pocket costs.
Protection of genetic information
Under a moratorium on genetic testing and insurance introduced by MOH and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in 2021, life insurers here are banned from using predictive genetic test results in assessing the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied.
Insurers are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results.
MOH said it has worked with the LIA to amend the moratorium t o disallow life insurers in Singapore to use the results of all genetic tests conducted under the national FH genetic testing programme.
They may, however, continue to request for individuals to disclose existing diagnosed conditions and family history.
The amended moratorium will take effect from June 30.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Traumatised': 65-year-old man injured by falling concrete in toilet of Yishun HDB home
The incident left Mr Mohamad Hashim Arshad with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. PHOTOS: SITI NURHASHIKIN SINGAPORE - A 65-year-old man was injured after getting hit by concrete that fell from his Housing Board flat's toilet ceiling on June 19. The incident left Mr Mohamad Hashim Arshad, a retiree, with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. He was discharged from hospital on the evening of June 20, his daughter Siti Nurhashikin told The Straits Times, adding that he was 'really, really traumatised'. The spalling concrete in the master bedroom toilet of the three-room flat gave way at about 4.30am when Mr Hashim was preparing for morning prayers, she said. 'While he was sitting on the toilet bowl, the ceiling suddenly collapsed without any warning, and the concrete fell on him,' said Ms Siti, a 34-year-old housewife. Her father has multiple health issues and is also on blood-thinning medication. In a Facebook post on June 20, Nee Soon GRC MP K. Shanmugam said that he has spoken with Mr Hashim's wife, and told her that assistance would be rendered to the family, including the payment for repair works. Mr Shanmugam added that his volunteers are coordinating with HDB and the Town Council on this matter. Ms Siti told ST that her father's ground-floor unit and his neighbour's unit directly above him had not undergone any renovations recently. They had also not noticed any signs of wear and tear in the toilet, nor were there any prior incidents. In response to ST's queries, HDB said Mr Hashim's unit in Yishun Street 11 was built 41 years ago and was upgraded under the Housing Board's Home Improvement Programme in 2018. It will be assisting the flat's owners under the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme and is coordinating with grassroots leaders on the cost of repair works. HDB said it sent officers to investigate after the incident and i nspections showed slight bulging of concrete in the kitchen bathroom. While there is no imminent spalling of concrete at the kitchen bathroom's ceiling, it has arranged for contractors to remove the bulging concrete 'for the residents' peace of mind and safety' , it said. Spalling concrete occurs through carbonation, a natural deterioration process that causes steel reinforcement bars in the ceiling to corrode and the concrete to crack, particularly in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens, said HDB. 'To help prevent such incidents, when any visible signs of cracks or holes start appearing, residents should seal them promptly, and also paint their ceilings regularly to prevent moisture and carbon dioxide from entering the concrete,' it said. 'As a humid environment will speed up carbonation, residents are also encouraged to provide for the proper ventilation of any moisture-prone areas by opening the windows, vents or doors to reduce when these areas are not in use. Such regular care and maintenance by residents will help to keep the flats in good condition.' ST has contacted Nee Soon Town Council and the Singapore Contractors Association for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Toilet ceiling concrete falls on elderly man's head in Yishun, leaving him with over 10 stitches
A 65-year-old man was getting ready in his bathroom when chunks of concrete from the toilet ceiling fell on him without warning. Toilet ceiling concrete falls on elderly man's head in Yishun, leaving him with over 10 stitches A 65-year-old man was getting ready in his bathroom when chunks of concrete from the toilet ceiling fell on him without warning. His daughter Siti, a 34-year-old housewife, told Lianhe Zaobao that her father, stepmother and stepbrother live in a three-room HDB flat at Block 127 Yishun Street 11. The accident happened at around 4.30am on June 19, while the retiree was preparing for morning prayers. Suddenly, large pieces of concrete from the bathroom ceiling fell and struck him as he was sitting on the toilet. "My stepmother heard the noise and then heard my father calling for help, so she went to check," Siti said. "The toilet door was blocked by the debris, so she forcefully pushed the door open and found my father bleeding profusely." Immediately, Siti's stepmother notified her aunt, who lived close by. "She was terrified, my aunt helped to call the police," Siti recalled. "My father was sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment. His health is not great in the first place, and this has made him worry even more." According to a Facebook post by Siti, her father suffered head, shoulder, and knee injuries. "His head needed over 10 stitches," it reads. "He is now in the hospital for observation, as he is also on blood-thinning medication. "The flat went through the Home Improvement Programme in 2018, and no recent renovations have been done by him or the neighbors above." The family later reported the incident to the Housing Board and to the police. "I'm sharing this so that other families with elderly parents living in older flats will be aware," Siti wrote. "Please check on their housing conditions. We never thought something like this could happen." According to the Housing Board, spalling concrete is a common issue for older buildings, especially in home areas with damp conditions, such as kitchens and toilets. It is the responsibility of owners to prevent and repair spalling concrete in their flats. Stomp has contacted the authorities for more info. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
How does genetic testing affect your insurance coverage? Here's what you should know
SINGAPORE: Singapore will launch a national health programme on Jun 30 targeting a hereditary cholesterol condition. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has described the programme as the country's first preventive care programme based on genetic testing. As Singapore expands its use of genetic testing in preventive healthcare, the question of insurance fairness looms large. Here's what you need to know about the moratorium that protects your data and your coverage. What is a genetic testing moratorium and why does Singapore have one? A genetic testing moratorium is an agreement that restricts how life insurers can use genetic test results when evaluating applications for insurance. It aims to prevent genetic discrimination, ensuring that individuals are not penalised for potential health risks identified through genetic screening. Countries that have such guidelines include Singapore, the United Kingdom and Canada. In Singapore, insurers cannot use predictive genetic test results - used to predict future risk of diseases - in assessing or deciding the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied. Genetic tests analyse one's DNA, RNA, chromosomes or specific genes to identify changes that may be linked to inherited conditions, disease risk and the likelihood of passing on conditions to one's children. In Singapore's case, a moratorium on genetic testing and insurance was introduced by the Health Ministry (MOH) and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in October 2021. In June 2025, the moratorium was expanded to include all predictive and diagnostic test results from the national familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing programme Under the agreement, life insurers in Singapore are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results. This means individuals do not need to worry that participating in MOH's genetic testing initiative will affect their ability to get life insurance, critical illness coverage. or similar products. The framework applies to all LIA members, including life insurers and reinsurers that are licensed to operate in Singapore. What does the moratorium mean for you? In your insurance applications, insurers may ask that you confirm you have read and understood the moratorium. Under the moratorium, insurers cannot require or pressure you to take a genetic test for insurance underwriting. This applies to all such tests, including predictive, diagnostic, pharmacogenetic or prenatal and newborn screening genetic tests. Insurance underwriting is the process that insurers take to evaluate the risk of insuring a person and decide how much he or she should pay for coverage. In addition, if you have done genetic testing under the new national FH genetic testing programme, insurers are not allowed to ask for or use your test results, both predictive and diagnostic, in insurance underwriting. A predictive test reveals the risk of developing a condition in the future while a diagnostic test confirms a current illness. Are there exceptions to the moratorium on the use of genetic test results? If you have previously taken other genetic tests, insurers cannot ask for or use your results in insurance underwriting. However, there are two exceptions. First, if the test was a diagnostic genetic test that confirmed diagnosis of a disease, insurers can request this as part of your medical history. Second, if you are applying for life, total permanent disability, long-term care, critical illness or disability income insurance, insurers may request your predictive genetic test results only if both of the following conditions are met: The sum assured or payout you are applying for is higher than the approved financial limit (see table below) set out in the moratorium The predictive genetic test you took is one of the approved ones set out in the moratorium - the HTT test for Huntington's Disease and the BRCA1/2 test for breast cancer The moratorium also does not affect insurers' ability to request or use diagnosis or family history, as per current industry practice. In addition, the moratorium only applies to insurance policies that were already in effect before its rollout. For instance, only policies signed on or after Jun 30 will be subject to the updated moratorium. What if you happen to reveal predictive genetic test results to your insurer? The rules of the moratorium still hold as it applies to accidental disclosure as well. This means insurers cannot consider the predictive genetic test result unless the two conditions, stated above under the exceptions, are met. If the predictive genetic test result is favourable, insurers may use it in deciding the underwriting outcome. Does the moratorium cover prenatal or newborn genetic screening? No, the moratorium does not apply to genetic tests done as part of prenatal or newborn screening, for example, tests for metabolic or inherited disorders in babies. These results are treated like other clinical diagnostic tests, and whether they are used in insurance decisions is up to individual insurers. If such tests are done as part of medical care, insurers may consider the results during underwriting, just like with other medical diagnoses. What can you do if you suspect non-compliance with the moratorium? If you are concerned with how an insurer has handled your genetic test information, you may work directly with them to resolve your complaint or feedback. If both parties fail to reach a resolution, you may file a complaint with the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre, or approach the Singapore Mediation Centre for mediation.
