THE government is encouraging HIV testing as part of health screening, but is considering an opt-out scheme, rather than making it compulsory.

Yesterday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said this is important as the infection rates are 'not low among certain high-risk groups' here as well as in the region .

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a National Day Observance Ceremony at Tien Wah Press. Mr Khaw acknowledged some may feel uncomfortable with formal screening, but said these individuals should at least seek anonymous testing.

'If you have high-risk sexual behaviour, I think it it is very important that, to be fair to your loved ones, you know your HIV status.'

If the patient is tested positive, then treatment and counselling should follow, 'so that you can protect your loved ones'.

However, the government is considering an opt-out scheme instead of making it compulsory.

Mr Khaw explained: 'You can opt out if you want to. But otherwise, people can just take it as like testing for high blood pressure.'

Yesterday, Mr Khaw also spoke about a new online forum on the Health Ministry's portal, to be launched next month, where the public can post their queries and get a reply. Major queries will also be posted on the website.

The aim is to address the public's concerns about healthcare costs. He said: 'If you work, you should save in Medisave, and we hope you also buy Medi-Shield and ElderShield. And if you do all those things, you really should not worry about healthcare costs.

'And I will continue to give this message, and at the same time, we will put it up on the website and try to explain as simply as we can, why Singaporeans need not worry.'

To reach out to the masses, the Health Ministry is taking steps to put more information in more languages about public healthcare schemes like MediShield and ElderShield online.

Such information is already available in English and Chinese on the Health Ministry website, and there are plans to launch a similar service in Bahasa Melayu next month.