Median Waiting Time for Cancer Treatment in Public Hospitals by Ward Class and Specialty
Debated in Parliament on 7 Aug 2024.
Summary
- Hazel Poa inquired about the median waiting times for new specialist outpatient appointments and cancer treatments in public hospitals.
- Health Minister Ong Ye Kung provided the median waiting times for outpatient appointments in 2023 but noted that the Ministry of Health does not track waiting times for cancer treatments.
- Ong explained that waiting times for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery vary based on cancer type, stage, and individual patient needs, and that some patients may choose to delay treatment after consulting with doctors.
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Full Transcript
Hazel Poa
Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Health what is the median waiting time by ward class of public hospitals for (i) new specialist outpatient appointments for the medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiotherapy specialties and (ii) cancer patients to commence chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery for cancer treatment respectively.
Ong Ye Kung
The median waiting times for new specialist outpatient appointments in 2023 are as follows:
By and large, for serious diseases like cancer, treatments are often carried as soon as possible. However, the Ministry of Health does not track the median waiting times to treatment for cancer patients as it is not a meaningful indicator.
Waiting times to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and cancer surgery vary depending on the type and stage of cancer and treatment modalities. In addition, some patients with other accompanying chronic conditions may require additional pre-operative management prior to treatment. Some patients may also require stepwise treatment where surgery is performed before or after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. As treatment poses much discomfort and inconvenience, others, after discussing with doctors, may choose to delay their treatment.