An Examination of Equity in COVID-19 Measures
During a parliamentary session on Monday (April 4), Mr. Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang) referenced Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s remarks regarding the continued necessity of Safe Entry measures to safeguard the 3.5% of Singapore’s population who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. He then posed a critical question: “From an equity standpoint, does it make sense to inconvenience 96.5% of the population solely to deter the 3.5% unvaccinated from entering various premises? Does it truly impact public health outcomes, or is it merely a tactic to encourage vaccination?”
Mr. Ong responded directly to Mr. Liang’s concerns, stating, “Is it equitable? Not quite. So many of us are doing so much to protect that 3.5%.” Despite acknowledging the lack of equity, he emphasized that the existing policies are still essential for maintaining public health outcomes, especially as hospitals continue to face challenges.
He shared insights from his visit to Ng Teng Fong Hospital that morning, noting, “They are very busy.” While COVID-19 cases have declined and many people feel safer gathering without masks outdoors, hospitals are still experiencing a crisis. “Every day, hundreds of patients enter the Emergency Department,” he explained, many suffering from chronic illnesses and some unaware of their COVID-19 infections.
Mr. Ong attributed this situation to the focus on the pandemic over the past two years, which has resulted in a buildup of routine hospital workloads and exacerbated chronic conditions. He stressed that, given the ongoing busyness of hospitals, healthcare workers require all the support they can receive.
As such, while the circumstances surrounding the unvaccinated may appear inequitable regarding business operations, Mr. Ong pointed out the need to avoid adding additional strain to healthcare workers at this time.
He concluded by stating that the “fair thing to do,” as transmission rates continue to decline, is to endure the current measures a bit longer until hospitals are better equipped to handle the situation, allowing healthcare workers to take a much-needed breather before considering the removal of Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS).
