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1. Reviewing the “insurance” Singapore buys
The pandemic highlighted the need for Singapore to strengthen its supply chain, with the authorities planning to review stockpiling strategies, build a more comprehensive list of critical items and expand source countries. The Republic may also diversify the sources of migrant labour, though it noted that the costs of buying such “insurance” will have to be carefully considered.
2. Dedicated forward-planning team, centralised assigning of crisis-time roles
A dedicated forward-planning team will be created for future pandemics, with the bandwidth and expertise to better anticipate and plan for situations that may arise. In addition, a more centralised system will be created to allow for crisis-time roles to be tagged to suitable individuals, who will be trained in advance to be redeployed quickly when mobilised.
3. Increasing flexibility of Infectious Diseases Act
Noting that the Infectious Diseases Act caters only to the binary scenarios of peacetime or emergency, the White Paper said the law was too constraining to calibrate public health measures as the situation evolved. The law should be reviewed to allow for more flexible and effective responses to the changing circumstances of a pandemic.
4. Better use of digital technology solutions
Digital technology solutions could be better employed in the next pandemic, with agencies such as the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and GovTech activated earlier to integrate digital solutions with ground operations. Additionally, cyber security must be enhanced, given the increasing dependence on digital tools in crisis operations.
5. Developing effective data-sharing system
The Government will invest in data-engineering capabilities and interoperable systems across its agencies so that data from multiple sources can be tapped to quickly obtain a common pictur ..
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