Every one of us would want to live a long and healthy life and there are a lot of things we could do in order to maintain a good health condition. One of the ways we could take care of our body is through regular health screenings. There are some illnesses or diseases that do not show signs and symptoms and having health screenings could help a lot in detecting them. We do not want to be discovering a certain problem in our body when it is already severe and incurable that is why health screenings are really recommended.
An article by Health Hub will tell us important information about health screenings. Let us read below.
The ABCs of Health Screening
Health screening enables you to find out if you have a particular disease or condition even if you do not have any symptoms and/or signs of disease. Early detection, followed by treatment and good control of the condition can result in better outcomes. Find out which recommended health screening test is suitable for you
All You Need to Know About Health Screening
- What is health screening?
Health screening is important to everyone. It involves the use of tests, physical examinations or other procedures to detect disease early in people who look or feel well. This is different from diagnostic tests which are done when someone is already showing signs and/or symptoms of a disease.
- Why should I go for health screening?
Health screening helps you find out if you have a particular disease or condition even if you feel perfectly well, without any symptoms and/or signs of disease. Early detection, followed by treatment and good control of the condition can result in better outcomes, and lowers the risk of serious complications. It is therefore important to get yourself screened even if you feel perfectly healthy. Read more here.
Great! That could actually sum up everything we need to know about health screenings. We were able to know the types of health screenings, its benefits, the things you should do after, and many more. The FAQs about health screening is now answered above. On a different note, there has been an update that health screening services are going to face tighter regulations. What could be the reason behind that? Let us find out through Vimita Mohandas’ article below.
Health screening services to face tighter regulations: MOH
SINGAPORE: Health screening services will soon face tighter regulation as authorities seek to introduce licensing requirements. This will come under a new Healthcare Services Bill, which will replace the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act, the Ministry of Health (MOH) told Channel NewsAsia.
A quick search on the Internet turns up numerous health screening packages in Singapore. Each package includes a battery of 10, 20 or even 30 tests with prices starting from S$100 for a basic assortment of tests, and they go up to the thousands for something more premium.
But does having more tests necessarily mean better?
“Sometimes, doing more tests makes you worried, costs you more money … and they may not bring any health benefits,” said Dr Desmond Wai Chun Tao, a gastroenterologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. “I have patients who come and see me because a health screening company goes down to a company to do a mass health screening for the employees, picks up some health results and posts the results and advises them to do certain things. But I notice that some of the tests are not necessary.” Read more here.
Everything mentioned above is actually true! We should only take what is essential because health screenings cost money. It is good that experts thought of it and that they are making ways to fix the matter. Since it costs money, it is another problem faced by some citizens because they cannot afford to have it. However, there is a good news. A five dollar health screening for 1.8 million Singaporeans was granted. Let us know more about it through Salma Khalik’s article below.
$5 health screening for 1.8 million Singaporeans: Letters out from August
Letters will start going out in August to the 1.8 million Singaporeans who are entitled to a health screening for $5 or less, under the Enhanced Screen for Life programme that starts in September. With the invitation letter, they can call any of the more than 1,000 general practice clinics on the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) to fix a date to screen for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cervical and colorectal cancers.
All Singaporeans aged 40 years and older are eligible. The $5 covers tests and, should any prove positive, a consultation with a doctor. The 400,000 Pioneers get the screening for free, while those with the Chas card pay just $2. Without the subsidy, it costs about $100. The Ministry of Health (MOH) hopes that by making it both cheap and convenient, more people would find out if they are suffering from chronic medical problems or the two cancers.
Mr Zee Yoong Kang, Health Promotion Board’s (HPB’s) chief executive officer, said: “It is good practice for everyone, even if you feel healthy, to go for regular health screenings so that you can detect any health conditions early, and manage the condition well.” Read more here.
It is good to know that those who can’t afford are being considered and given the chance to avail of this health screenings which is truly important for everyone. Health is one of the main concerns that a country must put their attention on and it is good that Singapore is doing something about it. There are several health problems that doesn’t show obvious symptoms that is why if you ever got a chance to have a health screening, you must not hesitate to grab the opportunity.