As a family doctor, I sometimes notice subtle changes during a consultation, and nip a potentially serious condition in the bud. I recall an old patient who came complaining of leg pain and weakness when getting up from a chair. Noticing he had lost some weight from the previous consultation, I ran tests that revealed he had diabetes. With treatment, the patient’s leg recovered.
For many of us old timers in family practice, we have served our communities for decades. My wife and I have served the community in Choa Chu Kang for the best part of 30 years. Children we saw as infants have come back as adults bringing their newborn to consult us for vaccinations and checkups. Their parents are now seniors coming to us to manage chronic conditions.
But such close relationships take time and effort to build up. Trust needs to be earned, and honesty, sincerity and humility all play a part in the making of a family doctor.
Under Healthier SG, enrolled residents will have regular scheduled visits with their chosen family doctor, who will help them to navigate their healthcare journey. This would encompass preventive care plans which should also consider social determinants of health, such as income, education, social networks and living environments.
For those concerned about the cost of chronic care, MOH will also be introducing a new drug subsidy tier under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) for medicines used to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension. The costs of such medicines at participating clinics would be comparable to that at the polyclinics.