Mass screening for diabetes, high blood
                 pressure and high cholesterol targets 374,000
                 people over 3 years

                 By SALMA KHALIK

                 ALL Singaporeans who are at least 55 years old will
                 be offered subsidised health screening for diabetes,
                 high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

                 It is estimated to cost $20 per person, but they need
                 only pay $5. The Ministry of Health will pay the rest.

                 Those who cannot afford to pay the $5 may
                 approach charitable organisations working with the
                 ministry on the screening programme.

                 Starting in the second half of this year, the screening
                 will be conducted on weekends at convenient
                 locations, such as at HDB void decks.

                 It should take three years to screen the 374,000
                 people. This number is 80 per cent of the 467,000
                 people who are 55 or older. The other 20 per cent
                 are probably being treated already for some chronic
                 illness.

                 Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang told Parliament
                 yesterday: ¼3 ""There is tremendous potential for this
                 mass screening exercise. I would put this akin to our
                 mass vaccination of our young. If we can organise this
                 properly, we are taking full advantage of Singapore as
                 a small, urban, compact society.''

                 About 50,000 people will be screened in the first
                 year, ¼1 162,000 in the second, and another
                 162,000 in the third. It will cost the Government $6.6
                 million. In three years' time ¼4 it will be extended to
                 those aged 50 and older.

                 The National Health Survey 1998 showed a marked
                 increase in the incidence of diabetes, high blood
                 pressure and high cholesterol in Singaporeans from
                 the age of 50. These problems can lead to heart
                 disease and stroke, the biggest killers in Singapore
                 after cancer.

                 More than half of the people found to have high blood
                 pressure and diabetes were not even aware of it.

                 In the new screening programme, those screened and
                 found to have abnormal results will be counselled on
                 site and referred to their family doctors or polyclinics
                 for follow-up treatment.

                 Women who come for the screening will also be
                 advised to go for cervical and breast-cancer
                 screening. ¼5

                 Mr Lim said that his ministry will adopt a suggestion
                 by MP Ang Mong Seng (Bukit Gombak), to provide
                 each senior citizen with a booklet to track his
                 screening results.

                 Ideally, senior citizens should be screened every two
                 years. Mr Lim said: ""It is important for people with
                 chronic illness... to be treated properly...

                 ""If we do this well and we do this systematically, the
                 number of people who require long-term institutional
                 care will be minimised.''

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 15 Mar 2000.