SINGAPORE, Nov 3 — The nine-and-a-half hour disruption to public healthcare services on October 13 affected about 4,000 outpatient appointments, said Senior Minister of State for Health Tan Kiat How in Parliament on Tuesday (November 3).

He was responding to questions filed by MPs Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang SMC), Poh Li Sam (Sembawang West SMC), Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) and Cassandra Lee (Tampines GRC).

They had asked questions ranging from the disruption’s cause, to its impact, and operational resilience plans.

The senior minister of state acknowledged that the disruption caused inconvenience and concern to patients and their families, and created additional work for the country’s healthcare workers.