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New Paper
a day ago
- Business
- New Paper
Eldercare services provider fined after client in wheelchair rolled off van platform and later died
Two employees of an eldercare services provider were helping clients board its van when one of the senior citizens fell off the vehicle's wheelchair lift platform and his head struck the ground. Mr Hassan Mohamed Karchi Arsan Osman, 76, was unconscious when he was taken to the National University Hospital, and he died of a head injury at 9.35pm on Feb 3, 2021. On June 3, Active Global Respite Care was fined $7,000 after it was convicted of an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations. Court documents stated that the company had failed to implement safety control measures and safe work procedures governing the use of the wheelchair lift at the rear of the van. Two people, who were working for Active Global Respite Care when the incident took place, were each fined $10,000 in December 2023. Myanmar national Moe Thadar, then 49, was a health care assistant at the time while Singaporean Kwa Kim Seng, then 67, was employed as a van driver. They had failed to ensure that the brakes of Mr Hassan's wheelchair were engaged, causing his death. For the current case, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo told the court that Active Global Respite Care owned two vans used for transporting elderly clients between their homes and a senior care centre located at Block 31A, Ghim Moh Link. A health care assistant would be present in each van to assist with the transportation of such elderly clients. Each van was installed with a wheelchair lift at its rear. This lift allowed wheelchair users to be loaded onto the vehicle through a platform that could be raised. At around 4.40pm on Feb 3, 2021, Moe Thadar and Kwa were at work, helping the company's elderly clients board one of the vans at the senior care centre's pickup point. Ms Boo said: "When Moe wheeled (Mr Hassan) from the pickup point onto the wheelchair lift platform, she failed to engage the brakes of (his) wheelchair. "As Moe was walking away, she told Kwa 'uncle, hold', in order to inform him that (Mr Hassan) was ready to be lifted. Kwa proceeded to raise the wheelchair lift platform while chatting with a colleague." As the platform was reaching the top of the lift, in line with the van, Kwa did not wait for a health care assistant inside the van to grab hold of the wheelchair. Kwa released his grip off Mr Hassan's wheelchair, which then rolled backwards and off the platform. Mr Hassan's head struck the ground when he fell. He was pronounced dead later that day. Ms Boo told the court that prior to the incident, Active Global Respite Care had no documented risk assessment on the transportation of their clients using a van with a wheelchair lift. She added that on the day of the incident, multiple control measures to minimise safety risks to Mr Hassan were also not implemented. These included ensuring that wheelchair brakes were engaged before activating the wheelchair lift. Defence lawyers Gloria James-Civetta and Noelle Teoh, who represented Active Global Respite Care, on June 3 pleaded for their client to be given a fine of not more than $5,000. The pair from Gloria James-Civetta & Co added: "The incident was an isolated and unprecedented occurrence that tragically resulted in the passing of the late Mr Hassan. "Prior to the incident on Feb 3, 2021, Active Global had operated in Singapore for several years without any record of similar serious incidents or accidents. It is also noted that the late Mr Hassan had successfully completed nearly 500 rides with Active Global over the course of his engagement, without issue." The lawyers stated in court documents that since the incident, their client has taken immediate and proactive measures to address any gaps in its safety protocols. This includes updating its standard operating procedure in June 2021 to further enhance the clients' safety during transportation. The company has also deployed additional manpower to act as traffic marshals at the drop-off and pick-up points of its centres, the court heard.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Eldercare services provider fined after client in wheelchair rolled off van platform and later died
Eldercare services provider fined after client in wheelchair rolled off van platform and later died SINGAPORE – Two employees of an eldercare services provider were helping clients board its van when one of the senior citizens fell off the vehicle's wheelchair lift platform and his head struck the ground. Mr Hassan Mohamed Karchi Arsan Osman, 76, was unconscious when he was taken to the National University Hospital, and he died of a head injury at 9.35pm on Feb 3, 2021. On June 3, Active Global Respite Care was fined $7,000 after it was convicted of an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations. Court documents stated that the company had failed to implement safety control measures and safe work procedures governing the use of the wheelchair lift at the rear of the van. Two people, who were working for Active Global Respite Care when the incident took place, were each fined $10,000 in December 2023. Myanmar national Moe Thadar, then 49, was a health care assistant at the time while Singaporean Kwa Kim Seng, then 67, was employed as a van driver. They had failed to ensure that the brakes of Mr Hassan's wheelchair were engaged, causing his death. For the current case, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo told the court that Active Global Respite Care owned two vans used for transporting elderly clients between their homes and a senior care centre located at Block 31A, Ghim Moh Link. A health care assistant would be present in each van to assist with the transportation of such elderly clients. Each van was installed with a wheelchair lift at its rear. This lift allowed wheelchair users to be loaded onto the vehicle through a platform that could be raised. At around 4.40pm on Feb 3, 2021, Moe Thadar and Kwa were at work, helping the company's elderly clients board one of the vans at the senior care centre's pickup point. Ms Boo said: 'When Moe wheeled ( Mr Hassan) from the pickup point onto the wheelchair lift platform, she failed to engage the brakes of (his) wheelchair. 'As Moe was walking away, she told Kwa 'uncle, hold', in order to inform him that (Mr Hassan) was ready to be lifted. Kwa proceeded to raise the wheelchair lift platform while chatting with a colleague.' As the platform was reaching the top of the lift, in line with the van, Kwa did not wait for a health care assistant inside the van to grab hold of the wheelchair. Kwa released his grip off Mr Hassan's wheelchair, which then rolled backwards and off the platform. Mr Hassan's head struck the ground when he fell. He was pronounced dead later that day . Ms Boo told the court that prior to the incident, Active Global Respite Care had no documented risk assessment on the transportation of their clients using a van with a wheelchair lift. She added that on the day of the incident, multiple control measures to minimise safety risks to Mr Hassan were also not implemented. These included ensuring that wheelchair brakes were engaged before activating the wheelchair lift. Defence lawyers Gloria James-Civetta and Noelle Teoh, who represented Active Global Respite Care, on June 3 pleaded for their client to be given a fine of not more than $5,000. The pair from Gloria James-Civetta & Co added: 'The incident was an isolated and unprecedented occurrence that tragically resulted in the passing of the late Mr Hassan. 'Prior to the incident on Feb 3, 2021, Active Global had operated in Singapore for several years without any record of similar serious incidents or accidents. It is also noted that the late Mr Hassan had successfully completed nearly 500 rides with Active Global over the course of his engagement, without issue.' The lawyers stated in court documents that since the incident, their client has taken immediate and proactive measures to address any gaps in its safety protocols. This includes updating its standard operating procedure in June 2021 to further enhance the clients' safety during transportation. The company has also deployed additional manpower to act as traffic marshals at the drop-off and pick-up points of its centres, the court heard. Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times' court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Implants could help treat eye condition that causes vision loss, according to new innovation
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Instead of receiving uncomfortable eye injections around once a month for a disease that can lead to blindness, patients may soon have an easier alternative. A new innovation will allow them to be treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) twice a year via an implant the size of a rice grain. Swiss healthcare firm Roche, which developed the treatment, is now conducting a study of the implant involving more than 400 participants in 16 countries, including Singapore – the only country in South-east Asia in the study and one of only three Asian countries. The study, which ends in December 2026, looks at the efficacy and safety of refilling the implant every nine months, compared with every six months. The implant has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Treating nAMD currently requires injections into the eye as often as once a month. Studies have noted that patients' discomfort with the treatment can lead to undertreatment of the disease. It affects the part of the eye that provides the sharp vision needed for activities such as reading and driving, and can result in rapid and severe vision loss if left untreated. The vision loss occurs when new and abnormal blood vessels grow uncontrolled under the macula – the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision – causing swelling, bleeding and fibrosis. The condition, also known as 'wet' AMD because these new blood vessels leak fluid into the retina, is one of the leading causes of blindness in Singapore, affecting more than 125,000 people aged 40 or older. This number is expected to increase to almost 200,000 by 2040, according to a study published in Annals, the official journal of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, in 2018. Roche's innovation to treat nAMD is a refillable eye implant that continuously delivers a customised formulation of ranibizumab – a drug used to treat a number of eye conditions – over a period of several months. Also known as a port delivery system, the implant is inserted into the eye via a simple procedure and requires just two refills a year. Roche said in a statement that the implant could result in more reliable improvements in vision for people living with nAMD, reducing the risk of disease recurrence. Decreasing the need for frequent eye injections and doctor visits can also reduce the treatment burden for patients, the firm said. Singapore currently has four sites involved in the trial – the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Eye & Retina Surgeons @ Camden Medical, a private clinic. Professor Caroline Chee and Dr Yuen Yew Sen from the department of ophthalmology at National University Hospital who took part in the trial. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Dr Yuen Yew Sen, a consultant with NUH's ophthalmology department, is among those involved in the Roche study here. He told The Straits Times only those who have recently been diagnosed with nAMD qualify for the trial, and four patients have received the implant at NUH. Once the treatment becomes available commercially – which he said could happen by 2026 – most patients should qualify for the treatment, except for those who have other eye conditions such as glaucoma. Beyond some initial minor discomfort following the surgery, patients who receive the implant are unlikely to notice it is even there, Dr Yuen said. 'Once the stitches dissolve, they don't actually feel anything,' said Dr Yuen, noting that similar implants are also used to treat conditions such as glaucoma. Such implants can also be used to treat other diseases related to the eyes, with trials looking at their use in addressing diabetic retinopathy on the cards, he said. Professor Gemmy Cheung, head of the retina research group at the Singapore Eye Research Institute, notes that nAMD presents differently in Asian populations due to the higher prevalence of a subtype known as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). 'PCV primarily impacts the blood vessels in the layer beneath the retina, causing serious vision impairment or even vision loss if left untreated,' she said. This is of concern because PCV has historically been considered more difficult to treat, with less predictable outcomes than typical nAMD, she said. While conventional treatments are effective in most PCV cases, frequent retreatment is required, said Prof Cheung, who also heads the medical retina department of the Singapore National Eye Centre. Lapses in treatment can result in reactivation of lesions and new instances of bleeding, she added. New therapies such as the port delivery system offer a 'promising approach to providing sustained disease control' in PCV, she said, adding they can potentially reduce the burden of frequent injections and improve long-term outcomes for patients. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Implants could help treat eye condition which causes vision loss
The implant has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Implants could help treat eye condition which causes vision loss SINGAPORE - Instead of receiving uncomfortable eye injections around once a month for a disease that can lead to blindness, patients may soon have an easier alternative. A new innovation will allow them to be treated twice a year via an implant the size of a rice grain. Swiss healthcare firm Roche, which developed the treatment, is now conducting a study of the implant involving more than 400 participants in 16 countries, including Singapore – the only country in South-east Asia in the study and one of only three Asian countries. The study, which ends in December 2026, looks at the efficacy and safety of refilling the implant every nine months, compared with every six months. The implant has already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) currently requires injections into the eye as often as once a month. Studies have noted that patients' discomfort with the treatment can lead to undertreatment of the disease. The disease affects the part of the eye that provides the sharp vision needed for activities such as reading and driving, and can result in rapid and severe vision loss if left untreated. It results when new and abnormal blood vessels grow uncontrolled under the macula – the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision – causing swelling, bleeding and fibrosis. The condition, also known as 'wet' AMD because these new blood vessels leak fluid into the retina, is one of the leading causes of blindness in Singapore, affecting more than 125,000 people aged 40 or older. This number is expected to increase to almost 200,000 by 2040, according to a study published in Annals, the official journal of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore in 2018. Roche's innovation to treat nAMD a refillable eye implant that continuously delivers a customised formulation of ranibizumab – a drug used to treat a number of eye conditions – over a period of several months. Also known as a port delivery system, the implant is inserted into the eye via a simple procedure and requires just two refills a year. Roche said in a statement that the implant could result in more reliable improvements in vision for people living with nAMD, reducing the risk of disease recurrence. Decreasing the need for frequent eye injections and doctor visits can also reduce the treatment burden for patients, the firm said. Singapore currently has four sites involved with the trial – the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Eye & Retina Surgeons @ Camden Medical, a private clinic. Prof Caroline Chee and Dr Yuen Yew Sen from the department of ophthalmology at National University Hospital who took part in the trial. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Dr Yuen Yew Sen, a consultant with NUH's ophthalmology department, is among those involved with the Roche's study here. He told The Straits Times only those who have recently been diagnosed with nAMD qualify for the trial, and four patients have received the implant at NUH. Once the treatment becomes commercially available – which he said could happen by 2026 – most patients should qualify for the treatment, except for those who have other eye conditions such as glaucoma. Beyond some initial minor discomfort following the surgery, patients who receive the implant are unlikely to notice it is even there, Dr Yuen said. 'Once the stitches dissolve, they don't actually feel anything,' said Dr Yuen, noting that similar implants are also used to treat conditions such as glaucoma. Such implants can also be used to treat other diseases related to the eyes, with trials looking at their use in addressing diabetic retinopathy on the cards, he said. Professor Gemmy Cheung, head of the retina research group at the Singapore Eye Research Institute, notes that nAMD presents differently in Asian populations due to the higher prevalence of a subtype known as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). 'PCV primarily impacts the blood vessels in the layer beneath the retina, causing serious vision impairment or even vision loss if left untreated,' she said. This is of concern because PCV has historically been considered more difficult to treat, with less predictable outcomes than typical nAMD, she said. While conventional treatments are effective in most PCV cases, frequent retreatment is required, said Prof Cheung, who also heads the medical retina department of the Singapore National Eye Centre. Lapses in treatment can result in reactivation of lesions and new instances of bleeding, she added. New therapies such as the port delivery system offer a 'promising approach to providing sustained disease control' in PCV, she said, adding they can potentially reduce the burden of frequent injections and improve long-term outcomes for patients. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
26-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Raising healthy children, one habit at a time
Whenever Dr Nicholas Ng Beng Hui pulls out his phone at the dinner table for work, his children, aged two and five and a half, are quick to remind him to put it away. Dr Ng, a consultant in the division of paediatric endocrinology at the Khoo Teck Puat National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, welcomes the gentle nudge. After all, healthy habits – including managing screen use – start with parents, who are a child's first role models. To support parents in this role, Grow Well SG equips families with resources and tools across four key areas: Screen use, physical activity, nutrition and sleep. Launched in January, this national health initiative – jointly helmed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development – is designed to create an environment where children can thrive by cultivating healthy habits. GROWING UP WELL 101 Dr Ng highlighted four key building blocks for a child's holistic development: Healthy, well-balanced nutrition; adequate physical activity; quality sleep and a positive learning environment. Nurturing these habits in age-appropriate ways supports the evolving physical, mental, cognitive and emotional needs of children from infancy to adulthood. But in today's fast-paced world, many parents are stretched thin. A 2022 survey by KK Women's and Children's Hospital found that more are turning to electronic devices to occupy their children – a quick fix that can come with a cost. Excessive screen use has been linked to reduced sleep, less physical activity and fewer chances for meaningful social interactions. As a father of two young children, Dr Ng has picked up valuable lessons from friends as well as parents of his patients: 'I've learned how important it is to be intentional with our time – especially when it comes to bonding with our children.' To reinforce that, he and his wife make it a point to disconnect from devices during family time, setting aside moments each week for shared meals, outdoor play and exercise. These occasions double as opportunities to instil healthy habits, making them part of their children's natural rhythm. 'Physical activity should match a child's stage of motor development,' Dr Ng explained. 'That could mean starting with regular tummy time (supervised time lying on their stomach) for babies, progressing to walks with parents and gradually building up as their coordination and confidence grow.' For the Ng family, weekday evenings and weekends are often spent outdoors at parks and nature areas. What began as stroller rides has naturally evolved into cycling and scooting sessions, with Dr Ng and his wife jogging alongside. He noted that healthy habits tend to stick when they're embedded into everyday family life. 'If parents expect their children to eat well and stay active but don't model these habits themselves, it's unlikely the behaviour will stick,' he stressed. When parents get involved, it not only reinforces healthy habits, but also deepens the parent-child bond. Creating a positive learning environment doesn't require fancy tools – simple toys, books or DIY crafts can become fun, meaningful ways to spend time together. 'Children learn best through play,' said Dr Ng. 'It's not just about keeping them engaged – it's also about how they build creativity, language skills and emotional intelligence. Through play, they learn to make choices, plan rules, share, take turns and explore new ideas.' Beyond play, routines around sleep, nutrition and movement are just as essential to a child's development. But in today's busy world, keeping them on track can be a real challenge. Research from the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development at the National University of Singapore reported that 65 per cent of school-aged children get less than the recommended nine to 11 hours of sleep on school nights, a pattern linked to higher risk of childhood obesity and other physical and mental health concerns. These findings underscore the importance of forming healthy habits early. Dr Ng encourages parents to begin by identifying specific challenges – whether it's inconsistent bedtimes or eating without awareness – and to draw on practical tools from platforms such as Grow Well SG. As part of Grow Well SG, personalised health plans will be progressively rolled out through the Health Promotion Board's annual school health screening programme, starting this year with Primary 1 to Primary 3 students. In addition to vaccination records, screening results and any necessary referrals, each child will receive a customised lifestyle plan – complete with tips and resources to support parents in building lasting healthy habits. Dr Ng believes tailored health plans work better because they reflect each child's health needs and family context. 'They also give parents a say in goal-setting and a stake in the outcome,' he added. Raising kids isn't easy but it's one of life's most rewarding journeys. 'Start healthy habits early, enjoy the ride and don't expect perfection,' said Dr Ng. 'Embrace the support available to you, including the resources and care offered by Grow Well SG.'
