Kai Hong Phua | National University of Singapore (original) (raw)

Papers by Kai Hong Phua

Inequality in Singapore, 2014

The international electronic journal of health education, 2005

Population Dynamics and Infectious Diseases in Asia, 2006

... While much of the preceding discussion paints the prospect of an impend-ing bird flu epidemic... more ... While much of the preceding discussion paints the prospect of an impend-ing bird flu epidemic in a ... illustrate the phenomenal advances which have been made in our ability to model the spread of ... Asia and Avian Flu 425 Any policy decision on stockpiling must weigh the cost of ...

Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1987

In planning for the health of the population, especially of the aged, demographic variables which... more In planning for the health of the population, especially of the aged, demographic variables which interact with social and economic factors must all be considered to assess their impact on the health services. Demographic trends such as the dependency ratio, sex ratio, marital status and family formation would also have a bearing on the care of the elderly at home. Trends in labour force participation and the extent of financial security among the elderly can therefore affect policy implications concerning public subsidy of health care and social services. As health needs are expected to rise in relation to the increasing proportion of the elderly as well as the survival of the older population itself, hence the urgency for innovative approaches to the organization and financing of health care. The aged accounts for a major share of the utilization and expenditure for hospitalization and medical services and yet have inadequate coverage. In Singapore, the Medisave Scheme was impleme...

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 1994

With the increasing prevalence of HIV infection/AIDS and the extending range of care and treatmen... more With the increasing prevalence of HIV infection/AIDS and the extending range of care and treatment, the economic implications of the various prevention and control strategies, and of treatment, have become the subject of interest to policy-makers, public health specialists and health economists. This paper presents an overview of the methods used for the economic analysis of AIDS/HIV infection. It proposes an activity-oriented, cost center-based model for the costing of the economic impact of AIDS, using cost figures in Singapore since 1985, when the National AIDS Control Program was started. Priorities for future research are also identified. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(3):143-50.

Singapore medical journal, 2002

... Corresponding Editors Prof Azrul Azwar (Indonesia) Prof Myo Myint (Myanmar) Prof Neil Pride (... more ... Corresponding Editors Prof Azrul Azwar (Indonesia) Prof Myo Myint (Myanmar) Prof Neil Pride (UK) Prof Tan Chong Tin (Malaysia) Prof Teh Bin Tean ... Kenneth Lyen Dr Denis Nyam A/Prof Paul Ananth Tambyah A/Prof Luke Tan Kim Siang Dr Kelvin Tan Kok Hian Dr Jackie ...

ASEAN Journal on Hospitality and Tourism, 2008

Quality of Life in Asia, 2013

Based on the past lessons of history, public policy priorities during times of crisis should aim ... more Based on the past lessons of history, public policy priorities during times of crisis should aim at strengthening social welfare and mental health services, monitoring risks and symptoms over critical time periods, and should pay special attention to high-risk and vulnerable groups and render assistance in priority areas of need. Governments play a critical role in providing social protection but face competing demands for funding (Marmot and Bell, BMJ, 338:858–860 b1314, 2009). The onus is on health and social policy advocates to lobby for political action to strengthen and maintain safety nets. Resource allocation needs to be prioritized to make healthcare more affordable, and social and healthcare financing needs to be diversified for this purpose. Investment in prevention and early detection and treatment of illness is good public policy in times of economic crisis, and an urgent priority is the strengthening of mental health services in anticipation of the increased demand (Phua and Kua, Asia Pacific Psychiatry, 1(2):55–57, 2009). Economic crises should provide opportunities and the imperative to implement evidence-based health policies, to protect and expand public health budgets in order to avoid longer-term social and economic costs.

Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 2016

Singapore, like many developed countries, is facing the challenge of a rapidly ageing population ... more Singapore, like many developed countries, is facing the challenge of a rapidly ageing population and the increasing need to provide long-term care (LTC) services for elderly in the community. The Singapore Government's philosophy on care for the elderly is that the family should be the first line of support, and has relied on voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs) or charities for the bulk of LTC service provision. For LTC financing, it has emphasized the principles of co-payment and targeting of state support to the low-income through means-tested government subsidies. It has also instituted ElderShield, a national severe disability insurance scheme. This paper discusses some of the challenges facing LTC policy in Singapore, particularly the presence of perverse financial incentives for hospitalization, the pitfalls of over-reliance on VWOs, and the challenges facing informal family caregivers. It discusses the role of private LTC insurance in LTC financing, bearing in mind demand- and supply-side failures that have plagued the private LTC insurance market. It suggests the need for more standardized needs assessment and portable LTC benefits, with reference to the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance programme, and also discusses the need to provide more support to informal family caregivers.

Routledge Handbook of Global Public Health in Asia, 2013

Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health, 2015

Inequality in Singapore, 2014

The international electronic journal of health education, 2005

Population Dynamics and Infectious Diseases in Asia, 2006

... While much of the preceding discussion paints the prospect of an impend-ing bird flu epidemic... more ... While much of the preceding discussion paints the prospect of an impend-ing bird flu epidemic in a ... illustrate the phenomenal advances which have been made in our ability to model the spread of ... Asia and Avian Flu 425 Any policy decision on stockpiling must weigh the cost of ...

Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 1987

In planning for the health of the population, especially of the aged, demographic variables which... more In planning for the health of the population, especially of the aged, demographic variables which interact with social and economic factors must all be considered to assess their impact on the health services. Demographic trends such as the dependency ratio, sex ratio, marital status and family formation would also have a bearing on the care of the elderly at home. Trends in labour force participation and the extent of financial security among the elderly can therefore affect policy implications concerning public subsidy of health care and social services. As health needs are expected to rise in relation to the increasing proportion of the elderly as well as the survival of the older population itself, hence the urgency for innovative approaches to the organization and financing of health care. The aged accounts for a major share of the utilization and expenditure for hospitalization and medical services and yet have inadequate coverage. In Singapore, the Medisave Scheme was impleme...

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 1994

With the increasing prevalence of HIV infection/AIDS and the extending range of care and treatmen... more With the increasing prevalence of HIV infection/AIDS and the extending range of care and treatment, the economic implications of the various prevention and control strategies, and of treatment, have become the subject of interest to policy-makers, public health specialists and health economists. This paper presents an overview of the methods used for the economic analysis of AIDS/HIV infection. It proposes an activity-oriented, cost center-based model for the costing of the economic impact of AIDS, using cost figures in Singapore since 1985, when the National AIDS Control Program was started. Priorities for future research are also identified. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(3):143-50.

Singapore medical journal, 2002

... Corresponding Editors Prof Azrul Azwar (Indonesia) Prof Myo Myint (Myanmar) Prof Neil Pride (... more ... Corresponding Editors Prof Azrul Azwar (Indonesia) Prof Myo Myint (Myanmar) Prof Neil Pride (UK) Prof Tan Chong Tin (Malaysia) Prof Teh Bin Tean ... Kenneth Lyen Dr Denis Nyam A/Prof Paul Ananth Tambyah A/Prof Luke Tan Kim Siang Dr Kelvin Tan Kok Hian Dr Jackie ...

ASEAN Journal on Hospitality and Tourism, 2008

Quality of Life in Asia, 2013

Based on the past lessons of history, public policy priorities during times of crisis should aim ... more Based on the past lessons of history, public policy priorities during times of crisis should aim at strengthening social welfare and mental health services, monitoring risks and symptoms over critical time periods, and should pay special attention to high-risk and vulnerable groups and render assistance in priority areas of need. Governments play a critical role in providing social protection but face competing demands for funding (Marmot and Bell, BMJ, 338:858–860 b1314, 2009). The onus is on health and social policy advocates to lobby for political action to strengthen and maintain safety nets. Resource allocation needs to be prioritized to make healthcare more affordable, and social and healthcare financing needs to be diversified for this purpose. Investment in prevention and early detection and treatment of illness is good public policy in times of economic crisis, and an urgent priority is the strengthening of mental health services in anticipation of the increased demand (Phua and Kua, Asia Pacific Psychiatry, 1(2):55–57, 2009). Economic crises should provide opportunities and the imperative to implement evidence-based health policies, to protect and expand public health budgets in order to avoid longer-term social and economic costs.

Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 2016

Singapore, like many developed countries, is facing the challenge of a rapidly ageing population ... more Singapore, like many developed countries, is facing the challenge of a rapidly ageing population and the increasing need to provide long-term care (LTC) services for elderly in the community. The Singapore Government's philosophy on care for the elderly is that the family should be the first line of support, and has relied on voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs) or charities for the bulk of LTC service provision. For LTC financing, it has emphasized the principles of co-payment and targeting of state support to the low-income through means-tested government subsidies. It has also instituted ElderShield, a national severe disability insurance scheme. This paper discusses some of the challenges facing LTC policy in Singapore, particularly the presence of perverse financial incentives for hospitalization, the pitfalls of over-reliance on VWOs, and the challenges facing informal family caregivers. It discusses the role of private LTC insurance in LTC financing, bearing in mind demand- and supply-side failures that have plagued the private LTC insurance market. It suggests the need for more standardized needs assessment and portable LTC benefits, with reference to the Japanese Long-Term Care Insurance programme, and also discusses the need to provide more support to informal family caregivers.

Routledge Handbook of Global Public Health in Asia, 2013

Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health, 2015

The Astana Declaration on primary healthcare in 2018 was the attempt to revive the ... more The Astana Declaration on primary healthcare in 2018 was the attempt to revive the ideals of the World Health Organization (WHO) Alma-Ata Declaration 40 years later, together with a call for the political will to provide adequate financing at acceptable quality of care. This approach is taken to achieve the past ideals of Health for All, given the new challenges of universal health coverage. The economic case for primary healthcare is justified against the growing demand due in part to the growing costs of chronic conditions and the rise of ageing population, other than the supply-side factors of the healthcare industry. Past healthcare systems have evolved greater roles of the state versus the market, but few have involved the Third Sector or civil society in more integrated ways to provide and finance long-term care (LTC) with population ageing. From the extremes of the communist state to capitalist free markets, an optimal public-private system has to reach a balance in access, cost and quality for health and LTC. Recent studies of health and LTC have distilled newer developments in public-private mixes of provision, financing and regulation, in response to the needs of fast-ageing Asian societies. While Japan was the oldest country in the world, other countries in Asia have caught up and are now acknowledged where innovative models of integrated eldercare under economic limits, hold great promise of their transferability to the rest of ageing societies. Besides other forms of integrated LTC delivery with traditional systems, newer forms of financing like savings funds and superannuation have been developed, with participation from government, industry and civil society. There is much to learn from the new Asian models of financing, using appropriate technology and social innovations, and integrating health and social systems for LTC.