The Push Towards Preventive Care
The core focus of RMDY Clinic is preventive care. We want to promote and encourage a positive mentality of doing regular checks on your health and optimising it in times when you are well, instead of waiting until you fall ill before making an appointment to see a doctor.
If you think about it, this concept is actually no different from the way you take care of your car. Most people would make it a point to send their car in for servicing immediately once the alert message shows up on their dashboard. If your mechanic then tells you there are certain parts that are worn out and need replacing, usually you would get it done because you want your car to run smoothly and not have it fail on you. You wouldn’t just keep using your car daily and wait for it to break down in the middle of the road before getting it towed to the workshop, would you?
On a national level, our Health Ministry is also making a push towards preventive care, amidst its ongoing efforts to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.
An article was recently published in the Straits Times on 12th February 2022 titled “Greater focus on preventive care to rein in soaring health costs in S’pore: Ong Ye Kung”. Our Health Minister announced upcoming plans to launch a national programme focusing on preventive care, in order to rein in soaring healthcare costs and reduce the burden on patient’s families.
Click on the image above to read the full Straits Times article.
Our population is ageing. The median age of the population increased from 34 years in 2000, to 41.8 years in 2021. By 2030, it is estimated that there will be around 900,000 people aged 65 years and older in Singapore, and healthcare expenditure is expected to triple to almost S$60 billion a year by then. It would make a huge difference if chronic illness can be prevented or delayed.
In recent years, efforts have been made to improve the infrastructure of preventive care, most notably the Screen for Life programme. This heavily subsidised national screening programme offers tests for chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, and is capped at S$5 for Singaporeans. It is free for Pioneer Generation cardholders.
Ultimately, the goal is to have a healthier Singapore. By optimising our health and wellness, we can age more gracefully and spend our time focusing on the things that really matter: meaningful work and career, spending time with your loved ones, and looking forward to milestone celebrations in your life.
What is Wellness?
Wellness is the act of practising healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you are thriving. The World Health Organisation defines health as being a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
Several key areas of your lifestyle are considered dimensions of overall wellness. They include: social connectedness, exercise, nutrition, sleep and mindfulness. Each one has an impact on your physical and mental health.
The Wellness Continuum
Our health can be thought of as a continuum that extends from illness to a state of optimal wellbeing. On one end, patients with poor health take a reactive approach to illness, having to episodically visit doctors to receive care and treatment. On the opposite end, people focus proactively on prevention and maximising their vitality, adopting attitudes and lifestyles that prevent disease, improve health and enhance their quality of life.
In other words, wellness is proactive, preventive and driven by self-responsibility. By making simple and healthy choices on a daily basis, you will be well on your way towards reducing stress, having positive social interactions and achieving optimal wellness.
