What are chronic diseases?
Chronic diseases are medical conditions that are generally progressive. These lifelong conditions, which include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and asthma, can be managed with simple lifestyle changes.
It is important to take charge of your health and manage these conditions to lead a fulfilling life.
What are some common chronic diseases in Singapore?
In Singapore, chronic diseases are significant causes of illness and death. Common chronic diseases that affect Singaporeans are:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Lipid disorders (e.g. high blood cholesterol)
- Stroke
What is Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)?
The Chronic Disease Management Programme was introduced to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of care for chronic disease patients in Singapore.
Using MediSave under Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)
The cost of managing chronic conditions is made easier with the use of MediSave, with the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). This allows patients to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare cost for people with chronic diseases when they seek medical treatment in an outpatient setting.
You can access this programme at all Healthway Medical clinics across Singapore. From 1 Jan 2021, patients with complex chronic conditions will be able to use up to $700 per patient yearly, while other patients will be able to use up to $500 per patient yearly for their treatments. Each MediSave claim is subject to a 15% co-payment in cash. Learn more regarding MediSave here.
The use of Medisave for CDMP applies to the following medical conditions.
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Lipid Disorders (high blood cholesterol)
- Stroke
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Major depression
- Schizophrenia
- Dementia
- Bipolar disorder
- Osteoarthritis
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Anxiety
- Parkinson’s disease
- Nephritis/nephrosis
- Epilepsy
- Osteoporosis
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ischaemic heart disease
Expansion of chronic conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)
From 1 July 2022, three new conditions will be added to the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). These are gout, allergic rhinitis, and chronic hepatitis B.
With these newly added conditions, CDMP will benefit existing polyclinic patients, Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), and Pioneer Generation (PG) and Merdeka Generation (MG) cardholders who can tap on MediSave and/or CHAS subsidies to better manage these conditions in the community.
With effect from 19 May 2020, MediSave and the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) will be extended to cover prescription refills for conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) that are delivered and collected on the patients’ behalf (conditions listed above).