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It’s impossible to separate the connection between good health and wealth. Just treating chronic illnesses and major health conditions can easily surpass the costs of preventive healthcare (i.e. early detection via health screening). Good health not only makes us feel good, it enables us to chart fulfilling careers and potentially generate more wealth.
On the flip side, if we fall ill, our loved ones will naturally be weighed down by our poor health. Besides caring for us, they may also have to shoulder more responsibilities at home while continuing to work.
Health Screening Fears: Knowing Sooner (Rather Than Later) Is Always Better
It’s natural for some us to be worried of the procedures that we have to go through and also possibly receiving not-so-great news about our health status. However, we need to realise that, without warning, good health can be snatched away from us.
Only by going for regular health screening, while we feel well, we can catch any illnesses or medical conditions early. That way, early medical intervention and timely treatments can enable us to manage the condition better and prevent it from worsening further.
The government also makes it affordable to go for health screening with its Screen for Life programme, by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), which provides health screening for Singaporeans for just $5 or less.
What Are The Recommended Health Screening We Should Take?
With a wide range of health screening made available by both public and private healthcare institutions, we may not know exactly where or what to start screening for.
Here’s where we can lean on the Screen for Life programme, our national health screening programme providing subsidised health screening for Singapore Citizens. On its website, we can find out exactly what types of health screening tests are recommended for us – by simply filling out our age group and sex.
Source: Screen for Life programme
These recommended health screening tests are based on the Report of the Screening Test Review Committee – set up to recommend health screening tests that are both cost-effective and clinically-effective.
As part of the review, the committee considered published scientific evidence, and the likely benefits and harms of health screening on those who undergo them. In general, there are two categories of health screening tests:
Category 1 – suitable for population-level screening; and
Category 2 – suitable for individual-level decisions.
The Category 1 screening tests are those that we should start with, and are for common and general health conditions. It is also segmented based on age groups and sex.
Those with certain chronic diseases may also be recommended to take more health screening classified under Category 2.
As we seek to go for regular health screening tests, it may become confusing to keep track of when we need to take these tests. Thankfully, information on recommended screening frequencies is on the Screen for Life website, and we can easily log in, via our Singpass, to check which tests we are due for.
Where Can You Take These Subsidised Health Screening?
The subsidised health screening is available at CHAS GP Clinic island wide. Note that the subsidised screening rates are only applicable to these CHAS GP Clinics, and not polyclinics. If we wish to head to the polyclinic for the health screenings, we will only receive the existing polyclinic subsidies we are eligible for.
It is also recommended to call the clinics that we prefer to make an appointment for our health screening, as we may need to prepare for them.
How Much Do The Recommended Health Screening Cost?
Going for regular health screening does not have to be complicated or expensive. As mentioned, the government also does its part through subsidised health screening under the Screen for Life programme.
These recommended screening start from $5 – or less. We can log in via our Singpass (by clicking on the yellow ribbon on the right) to find out if we are eligible for the subsidies and the screening tests we are due for under Screen for Life.
Source: Screen for Life programme
For those who are enrolled into Healthier SG (HSG), we may be able to enjoy fully-subsidised recommended health screening as well as vaccinations at our enrolled clinics.
Read Also: Healthier SG: How Can Singaporeans Benefit By Enrolling With A Family Doctor?
Good Health Is Integral To Leading A Rich Life
The race to building wealth is not a sprint, but a marathon that is decades in the making – and is intrinsically tied to our good health.
To maintain our good health, it is not enough to just rely on eating healthily, keeping active and caring for our mental well-being. Regular health screening is also an important component, and the Screen for Life programme is a cost-efficient way to keep track of our health status.
