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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.
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