Singapore to offer haze subsidies at GP clinics, polyclinics starting Oct 12

SINGAPORE, 11 OCTOBER 2026 —

Eligible Singaporeans will pay no more than S$10 for the treatment of haze-related conditions as the Ministry of Health activates subsidised care at Public Health Preparedness Clinics and polyclinics.

The measures take effect from Monday, October 12, as air quality deteriorates across the country due to transboundary haze originating from forest fires in Indonesia.

The subsidy scheme is designed to help Singaporeans seek treatment for haze-related conditions at the primary care level, according to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who announced the activation on Sunday. The initiative was last activated in 2015 during one of Singapore's worst haze episodes, when smoke from forest fires in Indonesia affected the region for weeks.

Under the rollout, all Singapore citizens will be eligible for the subsidies at polyclinics. Eligibility at participating PHPCs will be limited to specific groups, including children and seniors. Public Assistance cardholders will receive fully subsidised care, while Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors will pay no more than S$5, which equates to approximately US$3.90. Fees for other eligible Singaporeans will be capped at S$10.

The Ministry of Health will also activate the PHPC scheme, which aims to coordinate primary care responses and provide subsidised care during health alerts and emergencies, including haze and more recently for COVID-19. At participating PHPCs, Singapore citizens aged 18 and below or 65 and above will be eligible for the subsidies.

The subsidies will also be available to those on Public Assistance, Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation schemes, CHAS Blue and Orange cardholders, and Medical Fee Exemption Card holders.

Conditions covered under the haze subsidy scheme include allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, upper respiratory tract infection and their complications. Members of the public can refer to the Ministry of Health website for a list of participating PHPCs. Participating clinics can also be identified by their PHPC decal or haze subsidy scheme poster.

Speaking to reporters at an event at Bukit Canberra on Sunday morning, Mr Ong stated that he had observed a week-on-week increase in patients with respiratory issues at emergency departments, with polyclinics also seeing more such cases. He added that people with more serious conditions should continue to seek treatment at emergency departments, but respiratory issues that can be managed at the primary care level should be treated at clinics instead.

If there are no major issues, visitors do not need to visit the emergency department, Mr Ong said, noting that PHPC clinics should be able to take care of them. He explained that authorities are very careful in protecting that resource because people need to go there for life and death situations, emphasizing the importance of giving people assurance that doctors and family physicians can take care of them.

Air quality across Singapore remained in the unhealthy range on Sunday amid continued hazy conditions. The National Environment Agency said on Saturday that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index was forecast to be in the unhealthy to high unhealthy range for the next 24 hours. The 24-hour PSI reached new highs for this year's haze season on Friday, with the central region registering a reading of 192 at 5pm.

Singapore’s 28-agency Haze Task Force has stated that it is ready to roll out additional measures should the 24-hour PSI exceed 200. These measures include distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans and setting up air-conditioned haze shelters at community clubs, as well as selected residents' committee and residents' network centres.

Healthcare institutions, including public hospitals, polyclinics and nursing homes, have activated haze preparedness measures, including using air purifiers, closing windows in wards and corridors, and reducing ambient temperature through portable air coolers where appropriate.

The Ministry of Education will consider closing schools when the air quality forecast for the next day is in the hazardous range with the 24-hour PSI exceeding 300. Education Minister Desmond Lee said on Saturday that any decision to close schools would be announced by around 8pm the day before through schools and the ministry's official channels.

He added that the ministry would continue monitoring the situation each day and assess whether schools should remain open the following day.

Meanwhile, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said Singapore is prepared to help Indonesia in fighting forest fires wherever necessary amid the ongoing haze. Indonesia is currently battling its most intense wildfires in 11 years, driven by super El Nino weather conditions that have parched the country's forests and fields.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni told Indonesian media last month that wildfires could go on until early November, with the rainy season expected to arrive late, as he urged people to stop using fire to clear land during an extended drought.