CNA • 2:42 • intermediate • Health
Q1. What are the two schemes being activated in Singapore to address respiratory issues?
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/ˈrɛspəˌrɛtɔri/
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Definition
relating to or affecting the organs of respiration.
Example
The doctor explained that respiratory issues can be exacerbated by poor air quality.
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/ˈsʌb.sɪ.daɪz/
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Definition
to support (an organization or activity) financially.
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The government decided to subsidize health services to make them more affordable for the public.
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/ˈklɪnɪk/
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a facility for the diagnosis and treatment of outpatients.
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She visited the clinic to get a check-up for her persistent cough.
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/prɪˈpɛrdənəs/
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the state of being ready for something, especially in terms of health or safety.
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Emergency preparedness is crucial during the haze season to protect public health.
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/ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə/
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a highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory system.
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The influenza outbreak this year has led to an increase in hospital visits.
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/prəˈlɔŋd/
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continuing for a long time or longer than usual.
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The prolonged haze conditions have raised concerns about air quality and health.
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I think more Singaporeans having respiratory issues. We're going to activate our two schemes. I think the latest concern is that I'm seeing a week on week uptick in the number of people visiting the EDS, the emergency departments with
respiratory issues. Uh and also more people visiting poly clinics. I'm sure the local clinics are uh neighborhood clinics are seeing the same trend. Uh I think it is not just due to haste but also because the hay season
this year coincided with influenza A season. So I think it compounded each other. So given that I think more Singaporeans having respiratory issues, we're going to activate our two schemes. This is the PHPC scheme and the HSS scheme.
Uh the last time we activated was 2015, more than 10 years ago. PHPC is the public health preparedness clinic program. uh it is uh clinic facing essentially we have about 1,400 private clinics out there we bring them into
the network and activate them in uh situations such as this where there's some alert and some threat that we need to respond to. Uh second scheme is HSS which is health subsidi um pay h subsidy scheme. This is
public facing that means if you once the HSS scheme is activated from tomorrow onwards um members of public if you are below 18 above 65 holders of Charles blue or orange mca generation pioneer generation public assistance scheme uh
so on uh if you go to uh any of the PHPC clinic with respiratory issues uh you will be subsidized by the uh you will pay a lower fee and government will subsidize the clinics for delivering those services
to you. Uh so you pay from zero $5 either $0, $5 or $10 depending on your criteria. Yeah. Uh so that will be effective from tomorrow. Uh out of 1,370 clinics in the scheme as of this morning close
to 1,000 already responded positively. Yeah. So I think this will be useful. Uh so just a final reminder to everyone if there's no major issues uh don't have to visit the emergency department. Yeah. Go to a PHPC clinic.
They should be able to take care of it. In 2015 we have a very best uh bout of haze hitting 300 and above and that prompted the trigger of the skin. This year our assessment is a bit different.
We are not seeing 300. I hope not. Uh but it looks like it's a bit more prolonged. I think due to climate change and another reason intersoon season is getting longer so we're not seeing the haze going away
like in the past within a few weeks.
