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HSS Hosts Inaugural Regional Webinar on Travel Tips for People with Haemophilia
The Haemophilia Society of Singapore (HSS) recently hosted its inaugural regional webinar on travel tips for people living with haemophilia, bringing together participants and community partners from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand.
The session was organised as part of ongoing efforts to support persons with bleeding disorders in living more confidently and independently. Focusing on travelling overseas for work, study, holidays, or family commitments.
Preparing for Travel
Sister Yeam from Singapore General Hospital shared practical recommendations on how persons with haemophilia can prepare for travel safely and confidently, covering:
- Planning early with healthcare teams before travel
- Carrying sufficient medication and treatment supplies
- Bringing extra doses of factor concentrate in case of delays or emergencies
- Obtaining travel letters and medical documentation
- Preparing translated medical documents where necessary
- Researching haemophilia treatment centres near travel destinations
- Managing airport security screening and medication storage
- Emergency preparedness while overseas
Lived Experience and Practical Tips
HSS’ VP Melvin Tan shared his own experiences travelling with haemophilia, including lessons learned from an earlier trip where he did not carry sufficient factor concentrate.
He also shared practical packing strategies that have helped make travel smoother, including:
- using clear Ziploc bags to organise medication for airport security checks
- carrying cooler bags with ice packs for temperature-sensitive medication
- packing additional treatment supplies such as syringes, needles, and alcohol swabs
- keeping medical documents and insurance records easily accessible during travel
The session also covered common questions around travel insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions, declaring medical conditions when required, and navigating treatment access overseas.
Building Regional Connections
One of the key highlights of the session was the opportunity to bring together members of the bleeding disorders community from across the region for a shared learning experience.
Participants from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand asked questions and shared their experiences during the discussion, reflecting common concerns around travel preparation, emergency access to treatment, and navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems abroad.
HSS hopes this inaugural webinar will serve as a starting point for further regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the Haemophilia community in Southeast Asia.
Webinar Resources
Slides from the webinar can be downloaded below for reference.