SINGAPORE — At the polyclinics, air-conditioned rooms may be converted to waiting areas when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading exceeds 300. Air-conditioned tents could also be set up at polyclinics with sufficient space. A triage system is also in place under which staff will identify vulnerable patients with respiratory conditions.

To ease the patient load, Toa Payoh Polyclinic, for instance, could extend its tele-consulting service to patients with respiratory problems which would minimise their travelling time during hazy conditions.

If necessary, polyclinics will tap on general practitioners (GPs) in their respective vicinities. At the hospitals, plans are under way to convert spaces into wards in order to accommodate more beds.

These are some of the contingency plans that all polyclinics and hospitals have put in place and are updating should a serious bout of haze return.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Toa Payoh Polyclinic, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong gave the assurance that the healthcare infrastructure is ready to handle a haze crisis.

He noted that the impact of haze on the hospitals is “manageable, because most of the demand are still at the polyclinics”.

“So the polyclinics are the more important area that we are paying attention to,” he said.

Should a haze crisis strike, Mr Gan said that there are three key areas of focus: First, ensure patient safety at the institutions. Second, make sure the polyclinics and hospitals are able to meet a potential surge in demand for healthcare services. Third, minimise the disruption to healthcare services should the haze situation worsen or persist for a longer period of time.

Giving an update on the subsidy scheme for vulnerable groups seeking medical attention for haze-related ailments, Mr Gan said that 550 GPs have signed up for the scheme.

Since its launch last Thursday, about 2,000 polyclinic patients have made use of the scheme.

Mr Gan said: “In the situation where the haze condition is very bad, we may consider expanding the scheme so more patients can benefit from it and tap the GPs rather than having to come to the polyclinic for treatment.”

He reiterated that healthcare institutions are prepared for the triple threat of haze, dengue and infectious diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.