S’pore deploys first electric bus for vaccinations and medical screenings

Singapore now has its first electric vehicle (EV), which offers medical screenings and vaccinations, making services more convenient and accessible to the elderly population.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung officially launched the bus owned by charitable healthcare organisation Sata CommHealth on Monday (March 14).

The initiative is in line with SATA CommHealth’s commitment to expand its range of medical services and bring healthcare closer to the community, said the organisation in a press release.

The bus can fit two patients and provide services such as blood pressure screening, diabetic food screening, retinal photography, and Covid-19 vaccinations.

It is also stocked with basic medicine.

A doctor, nurse, and two administrative staff will be in the vehicle to provide the medical services.

The bus will first be made available to SATA’s 24 existing partners, such as the Bishan Home for the Disabled.

The vehicle’s launch also marks SATA CommHealth’s 75th anniversary and a push for more environmentally sustainable operations.

SATA CommHealth has an existing fleet of mobile X-ray buses running on diesel. The organisation aims to fully transition to a hybrid fleet of logistics and transport EVs by the end of 2027 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

“Our overall aim for the launch of the EV is to be a sustainable charitable organisation and support the national agenda to promote sustainability just like SATA seven decades ago when we served the community to fight an epidemic,” said SATA CommHealth CEO Dr Kelvin Phua.

“This electric medical bus will help to increase the accessibility of seniors who have to travel long distances to the clinics and also help to take care of the seniors,” he added.

The medical services offered by the EV will be subsidised as long as the patient is a CHAS (Community Health Assist Scheme) cardholder.

Services will be highly subsidised according to CHAS cardholder eligibility, and SATA CommHealth will absorb the balance amount.

There will be zero out-of-pocket for patients with CHAS cards for consultations, diagnostic lab tests and medications, the organisation explained.

Regarding availability, it noted that the targeted groups are seniors and vulnerable individuals who have no access or have difficulty accessing health services, focusing mainly on chronic diseases.

“We encourage the general public or seniors to visit their regular doctors for follow-up or to visit doctors at SATA CommHealth medical centres for referrals,” said the organisation. /TISG

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