Screen-for-life (SFL) is a government-led initiative to help eligible Singaporeans undergo regular basic health screening through subsidies so they would be less focused on the financial aspect when making the decision to look after their health. The aim is to catch diseases and cancers earlier, which leads to better prognosis and outcome during treatment. This programme only runs in CHAS-approved General Practitioner (GP) clinics, like Intemedical, and does not run in the polyclinics. Permanent Residents do not enjoy the same subsidies that citizens do, but are also eligible to enjoy separate Health Promotion Board (HPB) screening test rates at CHAS-approved clinics such as ours.
SFL Chronic Disease – Height, Weight, Lipid Profile, Fasting Blood Glucose/HBA1c
Eligibility:
Age 40 and above
Age 18 to 39 if meets criteria Diabetes Risk Assessment (DRA) tool recommends
No known previous history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes
Frequency: Once every 3 years
Brief description of the test: Your height and weight will be taken to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) which would determine if you are underweight, of normal weight, or overweight. This affects your predisposition to certain medical conditions. Your blood pressure will also be measured using a cuff wrapped around your upper arm. Blood will need to be drawn in order to check your lipid and glucose levels. This will be done by drawing some blood usually from veins on your arm, and the blood sample will be collected into 2 tubes for laboratory assessment.
SFL PAP Smear – Cervical Cancer (Women only)
Eligibility:
Age 25 to 29
No previous history of cervical cancer
Frequency: Once every 3 years if normal
Brief description of the test: The test should ideally be performed 2 weeks AFTER the 1st day of your last menstrual period. Avoid sexual intercourse, spermicides, vaginal creams, vaginal medication or tampons for 48 hours before the test, as these can affect the accuracy of the test results. The test is performed by using a speculum to gently open up the walls of the vagina in order to visualize the cervix. A soft-tipped brush is then advanced towards the cervix and a few rounds of brushing which take less than a minute are made to obtain sufficient cells for microscopic examination at the laboratory.
SFL HPV DNA Test – Cervical Cancer (Women only)
Eligibility:
Age 30 and above
No previous of cervical cancer
Frequency: Once every 5 years if normal
Brief description of the test: The human papillomavirus (HPV) accounts for more than 97% of all cervical cancers all over the world. Hence, testing for the DNA of the HPV allows us to pick up early cases of the 2 most common strains responsible for cervical cancer, even before any obvious masses, and even microscopic changes under the microscope can be detected. The test should ideally be performed 2 weeks after the 1st day of your last menstrual period. Avoid sexual intercourse, spermicides, vaginal creams, vaginal medication or tampons for 48 hours before the test. These can affect the accuracy of the test results. Similar to the PAP smear test, the test is performed by using a speculum to gently open up the walls of the vagina in order to visualize the cervix. A soft-tipped brush is then advanced towards the cervix and a few rounds of brushing are made which take less than a minute to obtain sufficient cells to run the specimen through a special machine at the laboratory to look for any signs of HPV DNA.
SFL Faecal Immunochemical Test – Colorectal Cancer (FIT)
Eligibility:
Age 50 and above
No previous history of colorectal cancer
Frequency: Annually (once/year)
Brief description of the test: You will be given 2 small containers in a package including instructions, of which you are required to place a small amount of stool into each on 2 separate bowel movements. Two samples are required, in order to avoid false positive results such as presence of blood due to superficial skin or haemorrhoid bleeding. Following that, you are required to follow the instructions provided in the information package to place the kits into the envelope provided and mail it through the normal postal route. There is no need to pay for postage as it has been pre-paid for already. An alternative to the FIT would be to undergo a screening colonoscopy, which is a more invasive procedure that requires a flexible scope to be placed through the anus and into the large intestine, to look for any abnormalities such as masses/growths/tumours. The risks of a colonoscopy include things such as bleeding, and perforation of the intestine, a dangerous complication which would require urgent surgery to cut through your abdomen to repair the rupture/defect in the wall of the intestine. If a colonoscopy is preferred, please make an appointment with the hospital or a specialist clinic for this. A colonoscope should not be done more frequently than once every 5-10 years, unless advised by your doctor.
Pricing for Chronic Disease, PAP smear/HPV Test & FIT:
Credit: healthub.sg
SFL Mammogram – Breast Cancer (Women only)
Eligibility:
Age 50 and above
Age 40 to 49 with high risk factors
No previous mammogram abnormalities suspicious for cancer
Frequency: Once every 2 years if normal
Brief description of the test: The SFL breast screening form can only be obtained through your CHAS-approved GP clinic, and an appointment will be made for you to schedule the mammogram, which would be conducted at a polyclinic. During the test, you will be asked to be totally undressed from the waist up, so it will be best to be dressed in a 2-piece suit on the day of the test. You will remain standing as your breasts are placed resting on the bottom imaging plates. When the test starts, an upper imaging plate is lowered and you should expect to feel some pressure at this point in time, with your breasts compressed in between the two plates. Some women report discomfort, but rarely severe pain. Once done, the plates are removed and you can dress yourself. You are advised to plan your appointment for one week after the first day of your last menstrual period. Do not use any perfume, deodorant, powder or ointment on your underarms or breasts as this may affect image clarity. Do not go for your mammogram if you are currently suffering from inflammation of the breast (mastitis) or are experiencing discoloured/blood-stained nipple discharge, and you should consult our doctor instead for an examination.
Do note that a screening mammogram is not a substitute for regular self breast examinations, which are encouraged and encouraged to be performed on yourself at least once a month.
Pricing for Screening Mammogram:
Credit: healthhub.sg
You will be eligible to use your Medisave500 scheme, of up to $500/year as long as there is sufficient balance, to pay the subsidized rate for your mammogram.
How to make an appointment with Intemedical?
Appointment Portal: Kovan Clinic / Potong Pasir Clinic
(click and book with instant confirmation!)
WhatsApp: 8879 9404
(available during clinic opening hours, 8am to 12am)
Mobile: 8879 9404
(messaging preferred)
Landline: +65 3165 9251
(please be aware that the phone might be engaged due to high call volume)