Written reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on the SAF's Protocols for Emergency Medical Situations and Regularity of Health Screenings

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) what are the safety measures and equipment within SAF premises to assist in any emergency medical situations; and (b) how regular are full-body health screenings and health intervention screenings conducted for army regulars and NS servicemen.

Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen:

The SAF's system and protocols for emergency medical situations are set up and reviewed regularly by the SAF Emergency Medicine Specialist Advisory Board. This board, which comprises external emergency medicine specialists from the public health sector, helps ensure that our emergency medical response system remains responsive and robust.

The system consists of multiple layers of response and support to deal with medical emergencies. Firstly, to enable immediate action by their peers on site, all recruits since 2010 have been trained to recognise sign of distress and to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and operate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) where needed. Ambulances can also be activated via a 24/7 dedicated hotline.

Secondly, trained medical personnel are required to be present during all SAF exercises and some selected activities even deemed as low risk to provide coverage. During such covers, the medic will be equipped with his medic bag, AED, oxygen tank, and purpose built cooling pads. If medical teams are required for higher risk activities, they will be equipped additionally to perform on-site resuscitation care for a wide range of medical and surgical emergencies. In such activities, ambulances are also required to be on site.

Ambulances are manned by dedicated teams comprising a paramedic and medic, and will evacuate persons experiencing medical emergencies to a restructured hospital's emergency department or the nearest SAF medical centre, as they deem appropriate. All SAF medical centres are manned by medical officers and medics with equipment to deal with resuscitation, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Emergency Airway Management.

Similar to medical emergencies, health screening guidelines are also set up and regularly reviewed by another Specialist Advisory Board which comprises senior cardiologists from the public health sector.

The Board takes into account the latest medical evidence and clinical best practices to recommend health screening guidelines which currently require regulars and IPPT-eligible NSmen aged 35 yrs and above to undergo Health Screening Programme (HSP) annually. The HSP includes blood and urine tests and a medical examination by a medical officer and further referrals to a specialist for investigation and treatment, if required. Typical conditions picked up include high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and in some cases ischaemic heart diseases (i.e. blockage to heart blood vessels).