SINGAPORE — Women in Singapore could soon have greater access to bone-density and muscle-related screening under Healthier SG, as the Government steps up preventive healthcare measures for women and an ageing population.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Oct. 6 that bone-density and other muscular tests will be made more accessible to women through the national preventive-health programme. Resources will also be provided to help women strengthen their bones and muscles. Details of the new initiatives are expected to be announced soon.
The announcement was made at the annual Her World Woman of the Year awards ceremony, where Ong stressed that women’s health should remain firmly on the national healthcare agenda.
Focus shifts to osteoporosis and muscle loss
The planned screening expansion comes as Singapore places greater emphasis on preventing health problems before they become serious.
Women become particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis after menopause, while ageing can also contribute to the loss of muscle mass and strength, a condition known as sarcopenia.
Singapore’s updated 2026 screening recommendations already call for osteoporosis screening and risk assessment for women from age 50 or after menopause, whichever comes earlier. This represents a significant change from previous national guidelines, which did not recommend osteoporosis screening for the general population.
Why bone health is becoming a bigger priority
Osteoporosis can weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures, while muscle loss can affect strength and mobility.
Singapore’s Agency for Care Effectiveness says bone-mineral-density testing should particularly be considered for postmenopausal women and people with other risk factors for osteoporosis or fragility fractures. It also recommends maintaining adequate calcium and vitamin D intake and adopting lifestyle measures that support bone and muscle health.
The broader objective is not simply to identify disease, but to help people intervene earlier — before declining bone or muscle health begins to affect everyday mobility and independence.
Part of a wider preventive-health push
The new women’s health measures fit into Singapore’s broader effort to shift healthcare toward prevention, early detection and personalised care.
Healthier SG already provides eligible Singapore citizens with subsidised screening based on factors including age, gender, existing health conditions and previous screening history.
The Government is also preparing other preventive-health initiatives. From 2027, an AI-supported tool known as ACE-AI is expected to help Healthier SG doctors identify patients at higher risk of developing conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol, allowing doctors to consider more frequent screening and earlier lifestyle interventions.
More support for women’s health
Ong also highlighted other measures aimed at women, including expanded support for people at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
From December 2026, eligible Singapore citizens and permanent residents will receive subsidies of up to 70 per cent for specific approved genetic tests for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. MediSave can be used for the remaining cost, while MediShield Life coverage has also been expanded for certain risk-reducing procedures.
Taken together, the measures signal a broader shift in Singapore’s healthcare strategy: detect risks earlier, intervene sooner and help people remain healthy for longer.
For women entering later stages of life, the coming expansion of bone and muscle screening could therefore mark an important change — with preventive care moving increasingly upstream before problems become harder to reverse.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
