COMPASSVALE SEC 4NA EOY 2019 SS

康 柏 中 学 COMPASSVALE SECONDARY SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2019 HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES (2175/01)(2176/01) Secondary Four Normal (Academic) Name: ______________________________ Duration: 1 hour 45 min Index No: _______________ Date: 1 August 2019 Class: __________________ Marks: ______ / 50 Additional Materials: 3 sheets of writing papers READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, class and index number in the spaces provided on the question paper and writing paper. Write in dark blue or black pen. Do not use highlighters or correction fluid. Section A: Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B: Answer both parts of Question 2. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. Begin your answer to Section B on a new and separate sheet of paper. The number of marks for each part-question is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. ______________________________________________________________________ This paper consists of 6 printed pages including the cover page.

2 Section A (Source-based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1. LIVING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering th e questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. (a) Study Source A. Do you think the cartoonist agrees that healthcare is made affordable in Singapore? Explain your answer. [5] (b) Study Source B. Why do you think this source was published? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Sources C and D. How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7] (d) Study Source E. How useful is this source as evidence that individuals have an important role to play in healthcare? Explain your answer. [7] (e) Study all sources. How far do the sources in the case study show that the government has made healthcare affordable? Explain your answer. [10]

3 Is healthcare affordable in Singapore? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. In Singapore, the public healthcare system is managed by the government while the private system is provided by the private hospitals and general practitioners. The government ensures that every Singaporean has access to basic medical services through subsidies. It also emphasises the need for individuals to be responsible for their own needs by saving for their medical expenses. This is done through Medisave, a medical savings scheme and MediShield, a medical insurance scheme. In addition, there is MediFund, which acts as a safety net of last resort for those who are truly unable to pay for their medical expenses. Nevertheless, some Singaporeans think that the government can do more to provide financial support in healthcare to its citizens. Study the following sources to find out if healthcare in Singapore is affordable. Source A: A cartoon published in a local website the website of, 10 July 2017.

4 Source B: From the Committee of Supply (COS) 2019 Booklet, which explains the summary of initiatives by the government, 6 March 2019. Source C: From an online blog, 28 January 2019. According to a risk assessment study, the average medical inflation rate of Singapore was the highest it has ever seen at 10% in 2018. Despite cancer being the number one killer in Singapore, information on the average cost of treatment is not easily available. However, we can give a good estimation of S$100k-S$200k in terms of cost per year, assuming a patient is in the more advanced stage of cancer. The median income of Singaporeans is at S$4,056, which means if your monthly salary is higher than S$4,05 6, you are earning higher than half of Singapore’s population. Assuming zero insurance or Medisave deduction from your hospital bills, do you think it is possible to handle those costs?

5 Source D: From an article published in an online newspaper, 17 January 2019. An 82-year-old man suffering from cataracts, made headlines last month when the public health insurance scheme MediShield Life paid only $4.50 of his subsidised bill of $4,477, because o f claim limits. This raises questions about the affordability of healthcare in Singapore, especially as medical expenditures are already projected to increase amid an ageing population. Why is healthcare becoming so much more expensive in the first place? Last month, the government introduced benchmarks on medical fees. The various schemes offered by the government aim to manage how much that patients, particularly poorer ones, need to pay. Industry players have pointed to an ageing population, with the n eed for more medical attention, and increasing labour costs as contributing factors. Source E: An article published in a local newspaper, 6 March 2019. In the end, the most effective way to keep healthcare affordable is to stay healthy, as unhealthy lifestyles are taking a toll on the system and affecting the quality of life of Singaporeans. Seven new hospitals have been built, adding a total of 3,800 beds when fully opened. Singapore needs to work harder in its fight against chronic diseases. Deaths from chronic diseases have fallen by 16 per cent since 2017 as a result of "early prevention, better treatment and disease management, which have contributed to our increase in life expectancy". To keep people healthy, the ministry will also offer free cervical cancer vaccines to young girls and non-fasting screening for diabetes and cholesterol to encourage more people to screen for problems. Source F: Adapted from PM Lee Hsien Loong’s Speech at the National Day Rally, 19 August 2018. For outpatient expenses, we introduced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS). At private clinics, your CHAS card entitles you to generous subsidi es, especially for the lower income. Dr Lily Neo told me that after the CHAS was introduced, more elderly patients, who would generally put off seeing the doctor until they cannot stand it anymore, now come to her earlier. This is better as she can treat them before their conditions worsen. I think all of us will appreciate a little bit of help with the regular medical bills for such chronic conditions. Today, CHAS covers middle and lower income Singaporeans. We will now extend CHAS to all Singaporeans with chronic conditions, regardless of income. Copyright Acknowledgements: Source A © https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2012/03/20/how-to-deal-with-rising-health-care-cost-part-i/ Source B © https://www.moh.gov.sg/cos2019 Source C © https://blog.seedly.sg/the-true-cost-of-healthcare-in-singapore-that-every-singaporean-should-be-aware-of/ Source D © https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/sengkang-general-hospital-opening-pm-lee-healthcare-spending-11372776 Source E © https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament -big-rise-in-healthcare-spending-not-sustainable-individuals-must-also-try-to

6 Source F © https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/national -day-rally-2018 Section B (Structured-Response Question) Question 2 is compulsory for all candidates. 2. BEING PART OF A GLOBALISED WORLD Study the extracts carefully, and then answer the questions. Extract 1 When Indonesia said that it intended to stop sending new live