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SINGAPORE – The co-chairs of the multi-ministerial working group will deliver ministerial statements in Parliament next Monday (January 4), on the Government’s response to Covid-19.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Education Minister Lawrence Wong will address questions from MPs on various aspects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Eight parliamentarians have asked about the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine, in accordance with the agenda set out in the Order Document issued by the Secretary of Parliament on Thursday (December 31).
Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast GRC) asked for details of the implementation plans, while Workers’ Party MP He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC) wanted to know about measures to calm concerns about the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Mr. Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten) inquired about Singapore’s national tracing program TraceTogether.
Singapore had entered its third reopening phase on Monday and began its Covid-19 vaccination exercise two days later.
MPs also sought updates on other topics.
Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) and WP MP Leon Perera (Aljunied GRC) inquired about plans to broadcast parliamentary proceedings live to the public.
In September, Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran said the government agreed in principle to broadcast these procedures live and that his ministry would study the technical and implementation details.
Five MPs asked questions about the issue of some 90 breast cancer patients who may have received unnecessary treatment since 2012, due to inaccurate test results from the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).
Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC), an oncologist, asked what is being done to help these patients and what steps are being taken to ensure the fidelity of laboratory tests. Non-constituent MP Singapore Progress Party Hazel Poa wants to know the reasons for the incorrect test results.
The Health Ministry has said it takes the incident seriously and has asked the hospital to review other laboratory protocols in addition to those for the affected tests as a safety measure.
According to KTPH, side effects of the drug given to affected patients can include diarrhea, chills, and fever. In about 3 to 4 percent of cases, patients can also experience heart problems.
Four bills will be debated, including the Payment Services Bill (Amendment), which involves strengthening the measures that regulate virtual payment service providers to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Mr. Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) filed a motion for postponement to provide further assistance to those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he said: “I know that going through IVF is an emotionally and physically demanding journey. It is not easy and we can and must do more to help those who are trying so hard to have children.
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