Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on 11 October 2026 that the Ministry of Health (MOH) would switch on the haze subsidy scheme, along with the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) scheme, because transboundary haze had made the air worse. Both took effect on 12 October. If you are a Singapore citizen, a polyclinic visit for a haze-related condition now costs you at most S$10. Children, seniors and some scheme card holders also get capped fees at participating GP clinics. It is the first time the Haze Subsidy Scheme (HSS) has been switched on since 2015.
Under the HSS, any Singapore citizen who sees a polyclinic doctor for a haze-related condition pays S$10 or the total bill, whichever is lower. Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation cardholders pay S$5 or the total bill, whichever is lower. Public Assistance cardholders pay nothing out of pocket.
No additional GST is charged on these fees, HealthHub says.
At GP clinics on the PHPC scheme, the cap applies to Singapore citizens who are children aged 18 and below or seniors aged 65 and above, and to holders of PA, PG, MG, CHAS Blue, CHAS Orange or MFEC cards. HealthHub says a child's visit must take place before their 19th birthday, and a senior's on or after their 65th birthday.
Ong said 1,370 clinics are on the PHPC scheme, and close to 1,000 had responded positively by the time he spoke on 11 October. Participating clinics show a PHPC decal or an HSS poster.
| Who you are (Singapore citizen) | What you pay for a haze-related condition |
|---|---|
| Child aged 18 and below, or senior aged 65 and above | S$10 or the total bill, whichever is lower |
| CHAS Blue, CHAS Orange or MFEC cardholder | S$10 or the total bill, whichever is lower |
| Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation cardholder | S$5 or the total bill, whichever is lower |
| Public Assistance cardholder | Nothing out of pocket |
HealthHub lists asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis and complications of any of them. The doctor decides whether your condition was caused by the haze, and only then can it be claimed under the scheme.
If you have a haze-related condition and a respiratory infection at the same time, the same caps apply. A teleconsultation can be subsidised if the doctor finds it clinically appropriate, and if you are then asked to come in person, the subsidy applies to that visit instead. The cap covers only the treatment for the haze-related condition, for one visit a day. Other medicines or treatment are charged as usual.
The HSS was introduced in 2013 and was last switched on during the 2015 haze, when it ran from 16 September to 22 November and the PSI peaked at 341, The Straits Times reported.
Ong said more people had been going to emergency departments and polyclinics with respiratory issues, as the haze this year coincided with the Influenza A season. He said the haze will likely persist for a few more weeks.
As at 11pm on 11 October, the 24-hour PSI ranged from 108 in the north to 152 in the west. MOH rates a PSI of 101 to 200 as unhealthy.
HealthHub says people whose per capita household income is S$2,300 and below would be eligible for CHAS Blue or Orange cards, and asks them to apply ahead of time at chas.sg. Applications are generally processed within 15 working days. Our guide to CHAS card tiers and how to apply walks through the tiers.
Ong asked people with respiratory issues to see a family doctor at a clinic, and to "leave emergency department facilities for those with very urgent, very serious conditions."
To see what you would pay without the cap, our guides cover 24-hour clinic fees in Singapore and the cost of a child's clinic visit.
Ong also asked people to check the PSI and the hourly PM2.5 reading before they exercise, and to exercise less hard when the air is unhealthy.
Only if you are a Singapore citizen aged 18 and below or 65 and above, or hold a PA, PG, MG, CHAS Blue, CHAS Orange or MFEC card, HealthHub says; every other citizen gets the cap at polyclinics.
Yes, HealthHub says you still get the haze subsidy if you meet the eligibility criteria, and your company's medical benefits can cover part or all of the rest of the bill, depending on its policy.
Check GPGoWhere or MOH's haze page at moh.gov.sg/others/haze, look for the PHPC decal or HSS poster at the clinic, or ask the clinic when you book or walk in.
This is general financial information for Singapore, not personal financial advice. Figures change, so verify current rates against the official sources above before acting. See our full disclaimer.
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