MOH to launch national programme for familial hypercholesterolemia by 2025

The genetic condition increases the risk of heart disease by 20-fold.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is set to introduce a national genetic testing programme by mid-2025, focusing on Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic condition that impairs the body's ability to process cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease by up to 20-fold.

As part of the programme, Healthier SG General Practitioner clinics and polyclinics will identify patients with abnormally high cholesterol levels and refer them for FH genetic testing at a newly established Genomic Assessment Centre. If tested positive, immediate family members will be encouraged to undergo genetic testing as well.

Both patients and family members will receive means-tested subsidies of up to 70% under the Specialist Outpatient Clinic subsidy framework. The remaining co-payment can be further reduced using MediSave under the MediSave500/700 scheme.

Meanwhile, patients diagnosed with FH will receive support from their Healthier SG clinics and start appropriate, subsidised cholesterol-lowering therapies.