Singapore Is Ageing. Are We Ready? — Ong Ye Kung on Health, Purpose and the Road Ahead
We’ve spent the year marking SG60. But while the nation reflects on how far we’ve come, there’s a quieter reality knocking louder each year: Singapore is ageing — fast.
By next year, nearly one in five of us will be 65 or older. Within a decade, it’ll be one in four. That’s not just a statistic. It’s a future that demands we rethink how we live, age, and care for one another. Not in theory but in practice.
In this special SG60 edition of Lens on Singapore, I sit down with Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung, to ask the tough question: what does it really mean to grow old with dignity in Singapore? And why the answer has to go beyond infrastructure and flashy wellness tech.
Why this episode matters
This isn’t a policy panel wrapped in jargon. It’s a direct, grounded conversation with the minister holding the levers.
- What dignity in ageing should look like from health to housing while staying connected
- Whether seniors today feel supported and included, or quietly pushed aside
- How Singapore is tackling loneliness, mental well-being, and the tension between sustainable healthcare and affordable access
I also ask the bigger question: What kind of Singapore are we building? One where seniors remain part of our national story, or one where they fade quietly from view?
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Minister Ong doesn’t dodge the difficult questions. He speaks with clarity, candour and heart about what’s working, what’s changing, and what still needs fixing.
Because ageing isn’t just an issue for the old. It’s the future all of us are walking into, and that makes it deeply personal.
Listen now to Singapore Is Ageing. Are We Ready? — Minister Ong Ye Kung on Health, Purpose and the Road Ahead.
For more episodes, visit bt.sg/podcasts. Got feedback or an idea for an episode? Write to us at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.
---
Podcast written and presented by: Claressa Monteiro (claremb@sph.com.sg)
With Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung
Post-production: Claressa Monteiro and Emily Liu
Coordinating producer: Chai Pei Chieh Video production: Studio +65
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
---
Follow BT Lens On:
Channel: bt.sg/btlenson
Amazon: bt.sg/lensam
Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/lensap
Spotify: bt.sg/lenssp
YouTube Music: bt.sg/lensyt
Website: bt.sg/lenson
Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.
---
Discover more BT podcast series:
BT Money Hacks: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks
BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt
BT Market Focus: bt.sg/btmktfocus
BT Podcasts: bt.sg/pcOM
BT Branded Podcasts at: bt.sg/brpod
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
