Impact of Deregulation of Medical Consultation Fees

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Health whether the de-regulation of medical consultation fees due to anti-competition concerns has been followed by an escalation in medical consultation fees charged to patients and, if so, what does this indicate.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: MOH is committed to ensuring that all Singaporeans have access to affordable healthcare. The Singapore Medical Association (SMA) started publishing Guidelines on Fees (GOF) for the private sector from the 1980s and withdrew the GOF in 2007 after being informed of perceived anti-competition concerns.

We have not seen an escalation in general medical consultation fees charged to patients since the GOF was withdrawn in 2007. The average rate of increase in outpatient consultation fees, for example, was in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases which averaged about 3.8% over 2007-2011, due mainly to rising housing, food, and transport costs.

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