Allowing Pioneer Generation Patients to Select Doctors at Specialist Outpatient Clinics

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider allowing Pioneer Generation patients to select their own doctors at Specialist Outpatient Clinics at public/restructured hospitals.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Currently, subsidised patients in our Public Healthcare Institutions (PHIs) receive care from a team of doctors, led by a senior doctor. This is to ensure that the patients will receive appropriate team-based care and where necessary, the senior doctors in the team will attend to the patients. Patients who wish to choose a specific doctor will have to pay private rates.

The same principle applies to Pioneers. Pioneers who are receiving treatment at the subsidised Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOC) in PHIs receive an additional 50% subsidy on the net bill for subsidised services and medications.

Pioneers who are currently private patients and wish to enjoy the Pioneer Generation subsidies at SOCs, can apply to switch to the subsidised SOC. As subsidised patients, they may not continue to see their current doctor, but they will receive appropriate care from a team of doctors.