Pritam Singh calls for frequent health dashboards as Rahayu Mahzam defends measured reporting approach

SINGAPORE: During a parliamentary sitting on 8 April 2026, Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam said a wide range of health indicators is already available, but health outcomes evolve over time and frequent reporting may not be appropriate.

She added that the Ministry of Health is reviewing how best to track and present such data to the public, particularly as Singapore’s population ages.

Rahayu was responding to a parliamentary question filed by Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Pritam Singh, who asked what additional public health indicators could be published monthly or bi-weekly.

The Aljunied GRC MP asked this in the context of Singapore’s transition to a super-aged society, and whether more frequent reporting could help the public better track health outcomes and system pressures beyond existing metrics such as bed occupancy rates, ward admission waiting times, and emergency department attendances.

Existing indicators across multiple platforms

In her response, Rahayu said that various public health indicators related to the health system and population health outcomes are already available.

She noted that several capacity-related indicators are published on the Ministry of Health website.

She said the annual National Population Health Survey tracks lifestyle risk factors and practices such as smoking, screening, and vaccinations.

The National Nutritional Survey provides data on dietary patterns and the nutritional status of the population.

Rahayu added that the Ministry’s annual revenue and expenditure estimates include key performance indicators such as life expectancy, mortality rates from diseases, disease prevalence, and medical resources.

Indicators on conditions including cancer, chronic kidney failure, stroke, and heart attacks are also published annually by the National Registry of Disease Office.

“Health outcomes take time to shape and evolve and it would not be appropriate to report fortnightly or monthly,” she said.

Singh presses for centralised dashboard

In a supplementary question, Singh referred to earlier discussions during the Committee of Supply debate.

“My question really starts from the discussion we were having… at the committee of supply,” he said.

He cited specific key performance indicators in the budget book, including the percentage of patients who wait less than 100 minutes for consultations at polyclinics, and those who wait 60 days or more for new subsidised specialist outpatient appointments.

“I’m suggesting that MOH look into… whether there could be a public health dashboard for Singaporeans that gives us a one-stop identifiable data point on what our public healthcare outcomes are looking like on a bi-weekly or monthly basis,” Singh said.

He added that similar public health dashboards exist in other OECD countries, and asked how the Ministry would improve reporting of health outcomes in a super-aged society.

Rahayu on balance and meaningful indicators

In response, Rahayu said the Ministry takes an end-to-end approach when tracking and measuring healthcare performance.

“When we look at how we are tracking and measuring, we look at an end-to-end and a full suite approach,” she said.

She said this includes preventive efforts such as screening rates and enrolment into Healthier SG, as well as system pressures, access to care, and broader health outcomes.

She added that many of these data points are already available to the public.

“There needs to be a balance in what we are tracking because just providing that information may not provide any meaningful insight or will necessarily encourage the right behaviours,” she said.

She also said there are costs involved in tracking and measuring indicators, and that any selected metrics must lead to appropriate responses.

Singh questions usefulness of existing KPIs

Singh further pressed on whether current indicators are meaningful.

He cited a KPI showing that 99 per cent of patients waited less than 100 minutes for polyclinic consultations across fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

“At some point we have to ask, is that a meaningful representation of what constitutes a good public health outcome?” he said.

“Is 100 minutes too lax or too permissive a KPI?”

He added that a dashboard with more granularity could help the public better understand system pressures and where improvements are needed.

Rahayu reiterates review and responsiveness

In response, Rahayu said the Ministry would continue to consider the feedback.

“I appreciate the member’s feedback… this is something that we will continue to consider,” she said.

She noted that data such as waiting times is monitored continuously and acted upon promptly.

She said public healthcare providers are adapting and improving, including through the use of digital systems in polyclinics.

“We want to make sure that whatever we are measuring is meaningful,” she said.

“There is always a quick response to… the needs on the ground… and to respond to the changing landscape with regards to ageing.”

She reiterated that the Ministry is reviewing how best to present health data so that the public can better understand health outcomes.