Jill Biden, Ong Ye Kung outline future of women’s health in lifelong preventive care
Jill Biden, Ong Ye Kung call for shake-up in how women's healthcare is tackled at Milken Institute panel
Dr. Jill Biden, chair of the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, outlined the importance of a lifelong approach to preventive care to bridge the health-span gap for women at a panel discussion during the 13th Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore on October 8. Women, who live longer than men, often spend more years in poor health due to biological vulnerabilities, Biden stressed.
She advocated for a health roadmap beginning at puberty, addressing issues like osteoporosis earlier through education and targeted care.
Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, participating in the discussion, positioned Singapore as a potential model for implementing these preventive care strategies. He noted that Singaporean women live to an average age of 84 but spend 12 years in poor health compared to less than 10 years for men. Ong highlighted that women face more health vulnerabilities due to biological factors and that many health issues could be prevented through early intervention.
Singapore has taken steps to improve women's health by offering screening tests for osteoporosis and sarcopenia through general practitioner clinics under the preventive health program, Healthier SG. This initiative aims to identify individuals who need early intervention and can access fitness training and weightlifting programs without the cost of a gym membership.
Ong also announced that the government will subsidize genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer from December 2026, allowing MediShield Life and MediSave to cover the costs of risk-reducing surgeries.
The panelists discussed the prevalence of sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, and the need for more education to address this issue. Ong emphasized that preventive health and population health must be made accessible, not just within clinics but in communities and homes. Biden urged the audience to contribute to moving women's health forward through targeted investments, personal learning, and educating others about the importance of preventive care.
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