All You Need to Know About Health Screening

Related: Cancer

1. What is health screening?

Health screening is important to everyone. It involves the use of tests, physical examinations or other procedures to detect conditions early in people who look or feel well. This is different from diagnostic tests which are done when someone is already showing signs and/or symptoms of a condition.

2. Why should I go for health screening?

Health screening helps you find out if you have a particular condition even if you feel perfectly well, without any symptoms and/or signs. Early detection, followed by treatment and good control of the condition can result in better outcomes, and lowers the risk of serious complications. It is therefore important to get yourself screened even if you feel perfectly healthy.

3. What kind of screening tests should I go for?

There are 3 types of screening tests1.

Category 1

Beneficial for everyone: These tests are listed in Table A.

Category 2

Beneficial for some but not others: Decision to be made on an 'individual' level, based on your individual risk factors e.g. self or family history of hereditary or chronic diseases, exposure to factors that can lead to disease e.g. smoking.  FInd out more about Category 2 tests.

Category 3

Not recommended for screening: Currently, there is not enough information to support the use of these tests.

It is best to speak to your family doctor who will advise you to go for the relevant screening tests based on your individual health profile.

View the report of the Screening Test Review Committee.


Table A – General Screening Tests (Beneficial for everyone)


General Screening Tests for Adults

Recommended for2 To screen for Screening test Screening frequency3
Individuals aged 18 yrs and above
​Obesity
 Body Mass Index (BMI)
Waist circumference		Once a year

Hypertension (High blood pressure)

Blood pressure measurementOnce every two years or more frequently as advised by your doctor
Individuals aged 40 yrs and above ​

Diabetes mellitus

Fasting blood glucose
HbA1c​​
Once every three years or more frequently as advised by your doctor ​
​Hyperlipidaemia (High blood cholesterol)
​Fasting lipids
Non-fasting lipids
Individuals aged 50 yrs and above ​

Colorectal cancer

​
​Faecal Immunochemical Test (to test for blood in stools) 

OR
Once a year

​Colonoscopy
​Once every five to ten years


Additional Tests for Women

Women aged 25-69 yrs, who have had sexual intercourse ​
​Cervical cancer
​
Pap test (for 25 to 29 years old)
Once every three years
​HPV test (for 30 years old and above)​Once every five years
Women aged 50-69 yrsBreast cancer
MammogramOnce every two years
​

General Screening Tests for Newborns

Recommended for To screen for Screening test Screening frequency
Newborns aged 0-4 weeks oldHearing loss​ Audiometry Once
​

​​​​​ Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

Screen with umbilical cord bloodOnce
​

Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM)

Metabolic screen with

Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS)

Once
​

Primary hypothyroidism

Thyroid Function Test (TFT)

Once

4. What should I do after health screening?

If your screening results are normal, you should continue to go for regular screening at the recommended frequency because screening only detects health conditions that are present at the time of screening. If you develop signs or symptoms after your screening, please see your doctor and do not wait for your next screening appointment.

If your screening results are abnormal, you should follow-up with your doctor immediately even if you feel perfectly well. Early treatment and good control of your condition can result in better outcomes and prevent or delay serious complications.

5. Why do I need to go for regular screening at the recommended frequency?

A one-off screening will only pick up health conditions that are present at the time of screening. Regular screening helps to detect conditions that may develop after the previous screening. Hence, it is important for you to go for regular screening tests at the recommended frequency.

6. What should I do if I cannot afford the screening tests?

Health Screening is heavily subsidised for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Under the Screen for Life (SFL) programme, Merdeka Generation (MG) or orange or blue CHAS cardholders, you will be entitled to enjoy the subsidies of the above tests (according to age) and a follow-up consultation, if required, at $2 at CHAS GPs. All other eligible Singaporeans and green CHAS card holders can enjoy these subsidies for the above test (according to age) and a follow-up consultation, if required, at $5 at CHAS GPs. 

If you belong to the Pioneer Generation (PG), the cost of the screening tests and the follow-up consultation, if required, is also fully subsidised. 

For Permanent Residents, do check directly with your preferred GP or polyclinics for the subsidised rates. 

Medisave can be used for screening mammogram and cervical cancer screening at the polyclinics. If you have difficulty paying for the screening tests, please speak to the medical social worker at the polyclinics.

7. My screening results are not too good, and my doctor has advised me to get follow up treatment. 

What should I do if I cannot afford the follow-up treatment?

Good, affordable basic healthcare is also available to Singaporeans through subsidised medical services offered at public hospitals and polyclinics. Medisave, Medishield Life, Elder Shield, Careshield and Medifund schemes can help Singaporeans offset their medical expenses.

8. Where can I go for health screening?

Health screening is available at many private medical clinics and polyclinics. Visit the directory for the list of screening locations.

9. Can I use my Medisave to pay for the health screening cost?

Currently, Medisave cannot be used for other health screening such as screening for diabetes or high cholesterol. However, if you are diagnosed with a chronic condition covered under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), Medisave may be used to pay for part of the outpatient treatment cost of these diseases.

Women aged 50 and above can use their own or immediate family member’s Medisave for their screening mammograms at approved mammogram centres. Under the Medisave 500 scheme, up to $500 per Medisave account a year can be used for screening mammograms.

Persons aged 50 and above can also use their own or their immediate family member’s Medisave for their screening colonoscopies (to screen for colorectal cancer) at approved colonoscopy centres.

Check out the list of approved centres or find out more.

10. Can I have a health screening if I am pregnant?

Please consult your doctor to find out if a health screening is necessary for you.

11. I am 70 years old (or older), do I still need to go for a health screening?

If you have not been screened in the past three years, and you do not have a chronic condition (such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol), please consult your GP for advice on screening. If you have been screened within the last three years, do continue to see your GP for the necessary follow up and advice on health screening.

12. If I am currently on medication for one of the chronic diseases, should I still go for a health screening?

If you already have one of the chronic conditions and are on medication(s), your doctor would be monitoring your condition as a form of management. Please consult your GP on other suitable health screening tests that are necessary for you.

1 Report of the Screening Test Review Committee. January 2019, Academy of Medicine, Singapore.
2,3 Screening can start at an earlier age or be done more frequently if someone has risk factors for the condition.

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