FOR the second time this week, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has surfaced euthanasia as an ethical dilemma that Singapore would have to confront.

End-of-life issues are expected to be on his ministry's agenda next year, but it appears that he wants more debate on other ethical dilemmas that ageing and developed countries are grappling with.

Besides confronting ethical issues, another challenge is deciding how much to spend on healthcare, given a rapidly ageing population, rising expectations and escalating costs. The current healthcare model is 'inadequate' for future needs, said Mr Khaw.

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