GE2025: SDP calls for nationalising mental health care, universal healthcare at Woodlands rally
SDP's deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the party's proposals at the rally at Woodlands Stadium on April 28. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
SINGAPORE – The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is calling for mental health to be a critical component of the national healthcare system, in a bid to stem a 'deepening mental health crisis' in Singapore.
Its deputy head of policy James Gomez put forth the opposition party's proposals at the SDP rally for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at Woodlands Stadium on April 28.
These include formal mental health leave, increasing financial support for caregivers, expanding green spaces, a nationwide mental health education campaign to encourage people to seek help early, and building community wellness centres.
'(The) bulk of mental health services are mostly in the private sector, and are unaffordable for ordinary Singaporeans,' Dr Gomez said, pointing out that 22 ( out of Singapore's 26) polyclinics offer mental health services, while there are more than 100 private clinics addressing mental health.
As a result, he said many Singaporeans have 'no option but to seek costly private options they simply cannot afford, or avoid mental health care altogether'.
The SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC pointed out five root causes of mental health issues in Singapore – 'uncontrolled' immigration, fierce competition for jobs due to foreign labour, rising cost of living, cyber bullying, and the burden of caregiving placed on working adults. He added that SDP's policy proposals in these areas lay the groundwork for addressing the root causes of mental health issues.
Also on the healthcare front, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah reiterated his call for universal healthcare, which the party detailed in its manifesto.
SDP has proposed a 'single-payer system', leading Health Minister Ong Ye Kung to call on the party to clarify its policy.
Mr Ong said on April 26 that such a system would either mean relying on government subsidies and abolishing national health insurance scheme MediShield Life, or relying purely on national health insurance and doing away with subsidies.
Singapore's current framework for healthcare payments uses a combination of subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave – a mandatory medical savings scheme – and MediFund, a financial assistance scheme.
At the rally – the party's fifth in six days of hustings – Professor Tambyah said that subsidies would not be needed in a single-payer system, which would mean 'huge savings'.
Based on the party's proposal, every citizen would have a national health insurance card and pay a fixed premium out of their Central Provident Fund savings, said Prof Tambyah, adding that programmes like the Community Health Assist Scheme and Pioneer Generation and Merderka Generation schemes would be merged to 'cut wasteful duplication'.
Other speakers called on voters to cast their ballots for the SDP as a check on the ruling PAP.
Referencing the scuppered Income-Allianz deal, which came under public scrutiny after questions were raised about Income Insurance's ability to continue its social mission after the sale to the German insurer, another SDP candidate for Sembawang GRC, Ms Surayah Akbar, said there was no transparency and consultation with stakeholders.
'Unchecked power is reckless. The PAP's idea of accountability is, 'don't worry, we supervise ourselves'. It's no different to students marking their own exams and rewarding themselves with F1 and Taylor Swift concert tickets,' said Ms Surayah.
Multiple SDP candidates also sought to assure voters that estate and infrastructure upgrading works would not be affected should the opposition be voted in.
Sembawang GRC candidate Damanhuri Abas referenced the manifestos and town plans that have been rolled out in various GRCs.
He said: '(The PAP) gives you five-year town plans that are actually routine works of the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) and HDB – non-partisan government agencies – timed perfectly for the election.'
Inequality also emerged as a theme of the night, with multiple candidates making references to the 'privileged elite'.
Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, who is contesting Sembawang West SMC, listed more than 10 foreigners who had purchased multimillion-dollar properties such as good class bungalows (GCBs) here, as well as PAP ministers who live in or who have sold their GCBs.
SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan speaking at Woodlands Stadium during the party rally on April 28.
ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
'When billionaires come in by the hundreds and snap up expensive properties in Singapore, they raise land prices. And when land prices go up, they drive up property prices and the cost of living for us,' he said.
He added that while generational wealth can be accrued through the transfer of freehold properties, Housing Board flats must be returned to the HDB at the end of their 99-year lease.
'As the PAP keeps stoking the spectre of race and religion that will split our society, it is the widening inequality between the rich and the rest of us that will tear our society apart,' he said.
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