Public Forum and Health Fair – MediShield Coverage for Your Loved Ones
25 July 2009
Media Release
1. About 84 per cent of all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) are covered by MediShield at the end of 2008. Around 93 per cent of our working population, aged between 21 to 65 years old are covered. In particular, as at end-June 2007, 85 per cent of women above 21 years of age were covered by MediShield, as compared to 91 per cent coverage for male Singaporeans and PRs.
2. In 2007, 15 per cent of women aged 21 and above were not covered by basic MediShield, particularly those who have relinquished their careers to become stay-at-home-mothers to look after their children on a full-time basis. These women are likely to face greater hardship as they grow older when healthcare needs are higher. Families too, may not be able to carry the burden of paying for their healthcare costs because they are also struggling to meet their own needs.
3. NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat’s (WDS) is concerned that quite a significant number of women are currently not covered by MediShield. WDS’ primary role is to develop and implement strategies and awareness programmes to assist women to re-enter the workforce, as well as enhance their employability through training and encourage them to remain in the workforce by promoting flexible work arrangements. Women’s overall wellbeing and health, as well as that of their families, is also another key focus of WDS.
4. Recognising that health is an equally important area that women should pay heed to, WDS organised the “Public Forum and Health Fair – MediShield Coverage for Your Loved Ones” to raise awareness on the importance of MediShield coverage and, in particular, to call on families to cover their loved ones with MediShield, especially their non-working wives and/or even mothers.
5. The Guest-of-Honour Minister of Health Khaw Boon Wan was present at the event to launch the MediShield Collaterals, including posters, flyers, animated video and testimonial on the importance of MediShield coverage.
6. Illustrated in a light-hearted manner and narrated in everyday language by a local cartoonist, the new MediShield Collaterals are understood by any person on the street. The aim is to ensure that the underlying key messages and the importance of providing medical protection under MediShield is clearly communicated and understood by everyone. More importantly, the collaterals serve to educate and encourage all spouses, particularly husbands, to cover their non-working wives early, whilst they are in the pink of health.
7. About 500 women who attended the free event, “MediShield Coverage for Your Loved Ones”, were the first to receive the newly launched MediShield flyers. They were also invited to participate in other fringe activities like the Public Forum and Health Fair.
8. WDS had also appointed female MediShield Ambassadors @ The Workplace to raise awareness on the importance of MediShield coverage and facilitate the sign-up process. As part of its ongoing efforts, WDS also conducts educational and awareness talks at union-management meetings and during some other appropriate platforms at the workplace to spread the key messages. The new set of MediShield collaterals is also published on the unions’ websites and newsletters. Female job seekers attending any WDS-initiated recruitment drives are also educated on the significance of MediShield coverage.
Mdm Halimah Yacob
Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC
Director, NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat
