Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the ministry expects over 2,000 individuals to be eligible for the HBOC genetic test annually.
“For those found to have the mutation, they will be offered suitable preventive interventions, typically this means more frequent breast MRIs or mammograms, or oral medications,” he said.
“Patients will ultimately decide, in consultation with their doctors, which intervention is appropriate. A minority may opt for surgical interventions,” he added.
Beyond testing, MOH will extend MediShield Life coverage to selected risk-reducing surgical procedures for patients who test positive for HBOC.
Currently, such preventive surgery is subsidised but not covered by MediShield Life or MediSave.
“With advances in medical science, the boundary between preventive and curative care is increasingly blurred. If a high-risk individual is unable to undergo preventive mastectomy, she has a high chance of eventually needing cancer treatments, including a curative mastectomy to remove ... cancerous tissues in her breast,” said Mr Ong.
MediShield Life should therefore be extended judiciously to cover certain preventive surgical procedures, he added.
“We are prepared to do so when there is a clear clinical need, minimal risk of abuse, the procedure is suitable for risk-pooling through insurance, and it does not financially burden the MediShield Life scheme.”
