\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients will ultimately decide, in consultation with their doctors, which intervention is appropriate. A minority may opt for surgical interventions,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond testing, MOH will extend MediShield Life coverage to selected risk-reducing surgical procedures for patients who test positive for HBOC.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, such preventive surgery is subsidised but not covered by MediShield Life or MediSave.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWith 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,\u201d said Mr Ong.<\/span><\/p>\n MediShield Life should therefore be extended judiciously to cover certain preventive surgical procedures, he added.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n