The programme supports tuberculosis patients by dispensing supermarket vouchers as incentives to encourage them to complete the full course of treatment.

 

SATA CommHealth and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has renewed their Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) & Shop programme with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Now in its 14th year of the programme, this MOU formalises the collaboration and will be extended for a three-year commitment.

Since its launch in 2009, the DOT & Shop programme has supported many tuberculosis (TB) patients by dispensing supermarket vouchers as incentives to encourage them to complete the full course of treatment. To date, the programme has since enrolled a total of 2,920 TB patients.

To accelerate the elimination of TB by 2030 in Singapore, SATA CommHealth, TTSH Tuberculosis Control Unit (TBCU) and TTSH Community Fund (TTSH CF) will continue on their mission towards increasing the compliance rates for TB treatment among patients under the DOT & Shop programme. Besides the ongoing challenges such as the nation’s ageing population, continued community transmission, population mobility and the threat of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, completing the full course of TB treatment remains one of the underlying challenges that patients face as they will have to undergo treatment over the course of six to nine months for drug-sensitive TB. As such, an additional incentive of transport assistance in terms of cash reimbursement are given to these patients to render stronger support for medical compliance to medical appointments at the TBCU. Transport allowance has been allocated for needy patients undergoing outpatient supervised TB treatment at the polyclinics or TBCU since 2019.

Scaling up the existing tuberculosis initiatives, the eligibility criteria for TB patients to enrol in the DOT & Shop programme has been enhanced this year to allow the flexibility to assist deserving and needy families. Under the income tier eligibility, citizens or permanent residents of Singapore with a per capita household income (PCHI) between S$1,200 to S$1,400 will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

To better reflect the means of the patient and direct the support towards those who need it more, the programme will also take into account the overall financial resources of the household through the exclusion of non-supportive children’s income and non-Singaporean dependents (spouse and children living overseas). This will be based on TBCU’s recommendation in the computation of PCHI.

Starting January this year, SATA CommHealth will continue to support by pledging up to S$100,000 of cash annually for another three years ending February 28, 2026 through TTSH CF, which will administer the funds. The vouchers are given to patients who have taken all their prescribed doses of medication in the month and also after completing the entire course of treatment.

Mr Mahindran, 62, living and caring for his mother, was among the beneficiaries of the DOT & Shop programme. He was diagnosed with TB in June 2022 and has since completed nine months of TB treatment via DOT at the polyclinic of his choice. “As I am unemployed, Tan Tock Seng Hospital offered to enrol me into the DOT & Shop programme. The vouchers were useful to cover my household expenses like groceries and motivated me to complete my treatment. Going for DOT helped me understand the importance of seeking treatment so that I do not infect my loved ones. Now that the per capita household income has risen, it will definitely benefit more patients who need the support,” said Mr Mahindran.

 

(** PHOTO CREDIT: World Health Organization’s TB campaign)