Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung replied to MPs: Today's students will ask for less sugar when they drink bubble tea

On March 6, 2024, Singapore's Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung replied to MPs in Parliament about the effectiveness of the Healthy SG Programme and the way forward.

The following is a translation of the Singapore Eye based on Parliamentary sources:

Mr. President, while we have addressed these immediate issues, we should not lose sight of the long-term strategic direction of health care. That is, to continue to promote health, not just to treat disease.

We have made clear this strategy to center on the Healthy SG Program. Ms Wong Ling Ling, Mr. Yip Hon Wing and Dr Saeed Harlan requested an update to the Health SG Programme. I am very pleased to say that its progress is encouraging.

Let me report some data. Since launching the programme in July last year, we have invited 2.4 million Singapore residents aged 40 and above to participate. As of last month, 765,000 people had chosen their chosen family doctor. 60% chose a GP and the rest chose a polyclinic. This is a good allocation as a key focus of the Healthy SG programme is to empower our GPs to play a more important role in population health.

More than half of the registrants have started consulting their doctor to develop a personal health plan and have earned S$20 worth of health points as a result. More than 124,000 registrants have already received free vaccinations and health screenings.

Over the past year, the number of participants in events organized by the Health Promotion Board has increased by 16 per cent, from 133,000 to 154,000. The number of participants in events organized by the People's Association increased by 12 per cent, from about 400,000 to 450,000. The number of participants at events organised by the Singapore Sports Board increased by 20 per cent, from 117,000 to 140,000.

As a result, we see people becoming more actively engaged and they appear active in their own private activities. I think the change is clearly perceptible. This is the new and active Singapore.

Ms Huang Lingling asked if we expected a decrease in the prevalence of chronic diseases in the Healthy SG Program. That's really our goal. With the healthy SG program off to a good start, we certainly hope that this will be achieved, but it will take time.

We recently increased the subsidy for chronic disease medications for Healthy SG Program participants seeking treatment. Over the next year, we may further improve the program.

First, expand the scope of health protocols. GPs provide guidance in accordance with the Health SG Programme protocol to ensure that residents receive consistent and high-quality care. There are currently 12 protocols in place, including screening, vaccination, and management of common chronic diseases.

The Ministry of Health will expand the scope of the protocol to cover more diseases, such as stable ischemic heart disease and stable stroke. We plan to roll out these protocols gradually starting in early 2025. As previously announced, we are also starting to work on incorporating mental health aspects into the protocol.

Second, we will improve health programs. Currently, registered physicians will work together to develop a health plan as part of a preventive care consultation. It covers some of the necessary action items, such as regular health screenings and vaccinations. But when it comes to lifestyle, the recommendations are usually quite general, such as "exercise more", "eat healthily". In 2024, we will start to make more specific recommendations. For example, it may recommend that you do aerobic exercise three times a week. You can then use the Healthy 365 app to find suitable exercise activities near your home. Healthy 365 will also offer multi-language support.

Thirdly, we will continue to roll out interventions for the elderly through the Senior SG Programme, as elaborated by the Second Minister of Health, Ma Shangao.

Fourth, we will continue to fight the excessive consumption of sugar and sodium. Our nutrition rating labels for prepackaged beverages are already playing a role in changing consumer behavior. I will personally check the drinks in the members' room on a regular basis. Some people have seen me do this. I am pleased to report that they are all rated "A" and "B" and have passed the inspection of the Ministry of Health.

However, there is a drink, "zero sugar salty lychee flavor". I texted my staff and asked how the drink should be labeled, whether it was sugar or sodium, and they told me to just drink it.

I also met some students who asked for bubble tea to be less sugary so that it could achieve nutritional level "B". As Minister of Education, I always tell students not to care too much about grades. But in this case, it's good to focus on the score and go for "A" and "B".

Recently, we have extended the trophic level to freshly prepared beverages. I recently met with two coffee shop associations and sought their support. The leadership of the association fully supports. They represent more than half of Singapore's coffee shops and intend to serve less sugary beverages, even if diners don't specifically state it. In the future, if they order a cup of coffee, they will give coffee with less sugar. If you want less sugar, I recommend drinking unsweetened coffee.

If you consume too much sodium, it can lead to heart disease and stroke. It is found in salt, soy sauce, shrimp paste, and other sauces. With the strong promotion of the Health Promotion Board, more than 60% of salt wholesalers now supply low-sodium salt. Since the launch of the "Less Salt and More Flavor" campaign at the end of last year, about 30% of the F&B industry has supported the campaign. The food and beverage industry is also supported by about 20% of enterprises.

Recently I saw an inspirational program on Channel 8. There were two female presenters who went on a 21-day challenge to reduce their salt and soy sauce intake. At the end of 21 days, their blood pressure measurements improved slightly, but more importantly, they became more sensitive to the taste of salt. Now they are able to taste the ingredients better, and they didn't know that when they taste the food, there is also the taste of garlic, ginger, spices. They used to only taste soy sauce and shrimp paste, but now they prefer to eat less salt. It takes 21 days to change a lifelong habit.

Because we have to eat every day, the effects of food can accumulate over the course of our lives. Food can be either medicine or poison throughout our lives. A wise Chinese medicine practitioner once told me that if you eat well, you don't need medicine, and if you don't eat well, medicine doesn't work.

The following is the content of the question in English:

Mr Chair, while we address these immediate concerns, we should not lose sight of the longer-term, strategic direction of healthcare. That is, continue to build health, and not just treat illnesses.

We have crystalised this strategy around Healthier SG. Ms Ng Ling Ling, Mr Yip Hon Weng and Dr Syed Harun asked for an update on Healthier SG. I am very glad to say that it has been progressing encouragingly.

Let me report some data. Since the programme was launched in July last year, we have invited 2.4 million Singapore residents, aged 40 and above, to participate. As of last month, 765,000 have enrolled with a family doctor of their choice. Sir, 60% are enrolled with General Practitioners (GPs) and the remaining with polyclinics. This is a good split, because a key thrust of Healthier SG is to empower our GPs to play a greater role in population health.

Over half of the enrollees have started consulting their chosen doctors to develop a personal Health Plan and they have been rewarded S$20 worth of Healthpoints. More than 124,000 enrollees have received their free vaccinations and health screenings.

Over the past year, the number of participants in exercise sessions organised by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has increased by 16%, from 133,000 to 154,000. For sessions organised by PA, participation has gone up 12%, from about 400,000 to 450,000. For SportSG’s sessions, it has increased by 20%, from 117,000 to 140,000.

So, we see a discernible increase in people becoming active and individuals are also up and about on their own. The change, I think, is somewhat palpable. This is the new Active Singapore.

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked if we expect prevalence rate of chronic illnesses to come down due to Healthier SG. That is certainly our aim. With a strong start to Healthier SG, we certainly hope this will happen. But it will take time.

We have recently raised chronic drug subsidies for Healthier SG enrollees seeking care at their Healthier SG GP clinics. In the coming year, we plan to implement further improvements to the scheme.

First, expand the range of health protocols. GPs are guided by Healthier SG Protocols, to ensure that residents enjoy consistent and quality care. There are 12 protocols so far, which include screening, vaccination and management of common chronic diseases.

MOH will expand the range of protocols to cover more conditions, such as stable ischemic heart diseases and stable stroke. We will start to roll them out in early 2025. As announced earlier, we are also starting to work on including aspects of mental health into the protocols.

Second, we will improve the health plans. Currently, your enrolled doctor will co-develop a health plan with you as part of the preventive care consultation. It covers essential action items, such as regular health screening and vaccinations. But on the lifestyle, the advice is always quite generic, such as “exercise more”, “eat better”. In 2024, we will start to make the advice more specific. For example, it may recommend you do aerobic exercise three times a week. You can then use the Healthy 365 app to identify suitable exercise activities near your home. Key features in Healthy 365 will be made multilingual.

Third, we will continue to roll out interventions for our seniors through the Age Well SG programme, which Second Minister Masagos has elaborated.

Fourth, we will continue to fight against overconsumption of sugar and sodium. Our Nutri-Grade labelling of pre-packaged drinks have been useful in changing consumer behaviour. I will regularly and personally inspect the drinks in the Members’ Room. Some of you saw me do it. [Laughter.] I am glad to report they are all graded “A” and “B”, and passed the MOH Ministerial inspection.

There is one drink, however, “zero sugar salty lychee”. So, I texted my staff to say what do we label this for? For sugar or for sodium? They told me to just drink it.

I also encountered students who are asking for less sugar in their bubble tea, so that it qualifies for Nutri-Grade “B”. As the Minister for Education, I always tell students, do not be so grade conscious. But in this case, it is good to be grade conscious and go for “A” and “B”.

We have recently extended Nutri-Grade to freshly made beverages. I met the two key coffee shop associations recently and sought their support. The association leaders are fully on board. Together they represent over half of the coffee shops in Singapore, and they intend to start serving “siu dai” or less sugar beverages by default. This means when you order a kopi in future, they give you “siu dai”, even though you do not say it. If you want even less sugar, I recommend just drink “kosong”.

Sodium is the other culprit that can lead to heart diseases and strokes, if over-consumed. It is found in salt, soya sauce, belachan and other sauces. With much effort from the HPB, over 60% of wholesalers of salt are now supplying lower-sodium salt. About 30% of the catering industry are supporting our “Less Salt, More Taste” movement since it was launched late last year. 20% of the food and beverage industry are also doing so.

I recently saw an encouraging programme on Channel 8. There were two lady hosts, they went on a 21-day challenge to take less salt and less soya sauce. At the end of the 21 days, their blood pressure measurements had moderated somewhat, but more importantly, their taste buds had become much more sensitive to salt. They could now taste the ingredients better, they never knew when they taste something, there are undertones of garlic, ginger, spices. They used to just taste soya sauce and belachan, and they prefer to eat less salt now. It took 21 days to change a lifelong habit.

Remember, because we eat every day, the effect of food accumulates through our lifetimes. Over our lifetimes, food can be medicine, food can also be poison. As a wise Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician once told me, if you eat well, there is no need for medicine; if you do not eat well, medicine is of little use.

CF丨Editor

Edited by CF丨

Singapore Parliament丨Source

Singapore Parliament丨Source

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