Annuity made palatable
Straits Times
Review - Editorial
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
BIT BY bit, the probable final shape of the compulsory annuity scheme for old-age support is emerging. Two features of the proposal which a good many people found objectionable may be modified, according to the principals working on the plan. These are the sequestering from the policyholder's heirs of surplus sums left upon death, and the seemingly ambitious age of 85 at which payouts from the annuity are to begin. Under modifications being studied by a government-appointed panel headed by Professor Lim Pin, the unused portion will revert to the family. This will be welcomed and should remove the one impediment that stands between voluntary and grudging acceptance of the old-age protection idea.
Just as cognisant of public unhappiness expressed is the concession that policyholders could have a choice of starting ages at which they will begin receiving payouts. Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is steering the annuity scheme, mentioned by way of illustration a range from age 65 up to 90. The base is obviously too low. A credible number could be 75 or 80. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said he favours age 80. The original access age of 85 on the face of it is scaled too high. All that the Government has said of longevity projections is that half of those Singaporeans who attain age 62 will go on to live beyond 85. How many would that be? The incredulity with which this was received by many people was undoubtedly a visceral response, but it was enough to dump controversy on a proposal which by rights should get easy passage, as about half of CPF members simply would not have enough money in their accounts to support themselves if they lived to extreme old age. The Government will now engage private actuaries to verify data on projected life spans. This preferably should have accompanied the announcement of the original proposal, but better late than never.
Two points arising are worth recording. First, the Government has taken on board views and criticisms that clearly are deeply felt, even if these should eventually turn out to be not completely justified. The receptiveness will be welcomed by the people. But they should be prepared to pay higher premiums, and consequently have reduced CPF balances, for the relaxed criteria. Second, it should be remembered reform of old-age pension proposals had begun in the 1980s. Data showed Singaporeans were living longer and outstripping their modest savings. Life expectancy was only 61 years when the CPF was started in 1955. As those who need help most are least able to accumulate enough in voluntary savings, a mandated plan is unavoidable.
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S'poreans live longer but suffer 8 years of poor health
Straits Times
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
MOH study shows main causes of sickness are diseases that could be prevented early on
IF YOU needed another reason to lead a healthy lifestyle, here it is: A study shows that Singaporeans may be living longer now, but they are also sick for more years than people in some other countries.
The main culprits are heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and even mental illness.
Now, the average
So while
The Ministry of Health study confirmed that a lot of suffering and premature deaths come from diseases that could be prevented - such as heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. Some cancers too could be caught early.
The prevalence of such diseases also suggests that more should be done to tell people what they can do to save themselves from becoming ill, said Dr Lam Pin Min, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health.
He called for more public education on how these ailments can be prevented, and screening to catch problems like diabetes and cancer early.
He added: 'With early detection of diseases, prompt medical treatment can hopefully minimise illness and medical complications.'
But health authorities can only do so much, argued unionist and Health GPC head Madam Halimah Yacob. People must take ownership of their health if they want to keep such illnesses at bay.
Her advice: 'Go for regular screening, eat more vegetables, less salt and do more exercise. That could cut the number of years you suffer from ill health.'
Dr Derrick Heng, deputy director of the Ministry of Health's non-communicable diseases branch said the study will guide the authorities on how to spend health resources.
But though it 'shines the torch' on diseases that cause the most suffering, the ministry will have to see which actually benefit from preventive measures.
The study will be repeated every three years, to track if the main causes of disability change, or are reduced, as the ministry puts in more effort to tackle them.
A surprising finding was how mental disorders count as much as diabetes and stroke for the wasted years. Mental health is getting a boost as the ministry has committed $80 million over the next five years to improving it.
Zooming in on problem areas could help
Japanese women live an average of 77.7 years in good health, compared to only 71.3 years for women here. Japanese men have 72.3 years of good health, compared to 68.8 years for
The ministry has already made the treatment and prevention of chronic disease a priority. People can now use money previously reserved for hospitalisation to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and stroke.
The intention is to treat those conditions early before complications set in.
Unfortunately the programme has not been popular, said Madam Halimah. She suggested expanding the use of Medisave money to include an annual health check.
Men should also take a leaf from their wives.
Women all over the world live longer and healthier lives. The World Health Organisation (WHO) attributes it to their smoking less, exercising more and being more health conscious than men. As for
Madam Halimah said: 'We should also start eating more fish and less meat.'
salma@sph.com.sg
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