Enhanced screen for life
On 1 Sept 2017, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Promotion Board implemented the enhanced Screen for Life (SFL). The aim is to encourage a greater uptake of health screening opportunities. https://www.sma.org.sg/UploadedImg/files/Publications%20-%20SMA%20News/4908/GP.pdf
An estimated 1.8 million Singaporeans will be eligible for a health screening at $5 or less, with all Singaporeans above age 40 being eligible.
GP clinics providing screening
Which GP clinics are eligible? All clinics that are participating a Community Health Assistance Scheme (CHAS) GP Clinics will be automatically enrolled into the SLF programme.
Screening tests available in CHAS GP clinics
The following are available:
- Cervical cancer screening for women aged 25 years and above;
- Cardiovascular risk screening for men and women aged 40 years and above;
- Colorectal cancer screening for men and women aged 50 years and above;
- Breast cancer screening for women 50 years and above at designated breast screening centres;
Patient eligibility
Eligibility for the various SFL subsidies depends on when they were last screened, whether they have been previously diagnosed with chronic disease or the selected cancers screened. Patient eligibility can be checked through the CHAS portal.
Eligibility criteria of conditions to be screened
50 and above
- Colorectal cancer — 2-day immunochemical test — once a year.
- Breast cancer — mammogram (women only) — once every 2 years.
- Chronic disease (Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, High blood pressure, Diabetes mellitus) — see below.
40 and above
- Obesity — BMI — Once a year.
- Hyperlipidemia — Fasting lipid profile — once every three years.
- High blood pressure — Blood pressure measurement — once every two years.
- Diabetes mellitus — Fasting blood glucose — once every three years.
- Cervical cancer — see below.
25 and above
- Cervical cancer — Pap smear (women only) — Once every three years.
18 to 39
- High blood pressure — Body-Mass-Index (BMI) — Once a year.
- Diabetes mellitus — Fasting blood glucose — Once every three years.
- Hyperlipidemia — Fasting lipid profile — once every three years.
Take home messages
Screen for life (SFL) is a low cost, effective screening programme for early detection of cancers, and chronic diseases. Do make use of the screening programme.
Further reading
- Dr Tan Tze Lee. Enhanced screen for life programme. SMA News, 2017. On 1 Sept 2017, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Promotion Board implemented the enhanced Screen for Life (SFL). The aim is to encourage a greater uptake of health screening opportunities. https://www.sma.org.sg/UploadedImg/files/Publications%20-%20SMA%20News/4908/GP.pdf
Acknowledgments
Grateful thanks to Dr Tan Tze Lee for a screening infomation article nicely put together.
Dr LG Goh
Dr GOH Lee Gan is a retired Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, National University Health System. He has an interest in learning and teaching how we can age well everyday (AWE).
