Ministry of Health First Level screening for Covid-19 infections
I saw a recent statement from the ministry of manpower telling employers not to send their workers for screening of workers at the hospital, if the workers are healthy. It is difficult for the employer to make this determination of whether the workers should or should not be sent for screening.

I suggest that the ministry of health introduce the following system for first level screening of Covid-19 infections.

a) Appoint a network of clinics from the public and private sector who are equipped to carry out first level screening of Covid-19 infections. These clinics should have the relevant test kits and the doctors and reception staff should be trained to handle the screening and to carry it out efficiently and completed at a short time.

b) A modest fee of (say) $10 should be paid by the patient for each screening. The govt can pay the clinic an additional sum that will make it worth while for the clinic to carry out the screening.

c) If the screening is positive, the patient should be referred to hospital. The cost of treatment in the hospital should be fully covered by the govt. 

d) If the patient does not need to be treated in hospital and needs to be placed on home quarantine, the patient should be allowed home leave and the employer should get the allowance of $100 a day.

e) If a worker is found to have fever, the employer can check for a nearby designated clinic to send the worker for the first level screening. An appointment system can be developed to spread out the work and avoid congestion at any clinic.

I hope that the ministry of health will implement this system soon.

Minister Gan - I hope that you are listening.

Tan Kin Lian
 

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