Foreign Non-Resident Patients in Government Hospitals

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the number and percentage of foreign non-resident patients treated at Government hospitals for the last five years; (b) what is the price differentiation between fees paid by a foreign patient and a local non-subsidised patient; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that Singaporean patients are given priority over foreign non-resident patients in Government hospitals.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: From 2007 to 2011, foreign visitors made up less than 2% of inpatient admissions and less than 3% of day surgery load in our public hospitals.

Our public hospitals' primary responsibility is to provide good and affordable care for Singaporeans. During the recent COS debate, MOH announced several key initiatives under Healthcare 2020 to build capacity and ensure that Singaporeans continue to receive the care that they need.

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Our citizens also enjoy heavy subsidies of up to 80% in the subsidised wards. Foreign patients, however, do not enjoy any healthcare subsidy for inpatient treatment regardless of the ward class they are in, and may pay up to 30% more than the unsubsidised rates for local private patients.