Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Health (a) if he would clarify whether Government subsidies are provided for all Accident and Emergency (A&E) patients at public hospitals regardless of their nationality; (b) if so, what are the reasons behind this practice; and (c) what is the number of foreign patients treated at A&E departments at all public hospitals from 2006 to 2010 respectively and what is the amount of Government subsidies given.

Page: 570

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Mr Speaker, non-residents generally do not receive any subsidies for in-patient and out-patient care in our public hospitals and polyclinics. In contrast, Singaporeans receive up to 80% subsidy for in-patient hospital care, up to 50% subsidy for specialists' out-patient services and up to 75% subsidy for polyclinic services. However, A&E departments serve patients who have critical, life-threatening medical conditions or have suffered accidents that require emergency attention. It is a safety net to save lives and therefore we have to keep charges simple and affordable. We need to ensure that patients will get the vital emergency treatment they need.

A&E services are therefore subsidised at 50% at a flat attendance fees imposed regardless of nationalities. In the last five years, the A&E departments in our public hospitals served about 780,000 patients a year. Singaporeans make up the vast majority. Foreigners treated at our A&E departments averaged 140,000 a year over this period or about 18% of the total patient load. Total Government subvention for foreigners at our public hospitals A&E departments averaged $14 million per year. This represents less than 1% of Ministry of Health's total subvention to public hospitals for subsidised patient services which amounted to $2.2 million.

Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tampines): Sir, I thank the Minister for his answer. I agree with the Ministry that for emergency cases, the priority is to offer treatment and the costs or charges to the patients regardless of nationalities should not be taken into consideration in that sense. However, given that most foreigners who are either working or travelling in Singapore would be covered under a company's medical benefits or travel insurance, would the Ministry consider removing the Government's subsidy for these foreigners or introduce means-testing for these patients at A&E departments?

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Mr Speaker, let me clarify that some of these foreigners may not be working because they may be here on long-term visit passes, they may be spouses or family members of Singaporeans. For A&E services because they affect life and death, we want to make sure that administrative processes in the A&E departments are kept as simple as possible, rather than subjecting patients to means-testing, looking at their income and their family background as well as verifying the nationality of each individual. Many of them come for A&E for a very short while because they are critical, once they are fixed up and treated, they are discharged. So the time that they spend in the A&E is very short. We do not really want to impose additional administrative burden on the A&E department having to deal with this group of patients, as they need urgent attention.

While we take into account Mr Baey's sentiment, we would like to still keep our A&E departments streamlined and focused on treating the patients, ensuring that everyone who comes to A&E receives emergency treatment that they will need. I think in terms of subsidies, for Singaporeans, those who really cannot afford it even with the 50% subsidy, we will continue to look at other ways because they are with us longer, they are still in Singapore. Even if they are discharged, we will then discuss how they can pay for the costs of A&E. If they really cannot afford it, Medifund will be able to help them over and above the subsidy that has already given in A&E. So, there is already some form of means testing for additional subsidy but for the basic tier of 50% subsidy I think it is better for us to keep the system simple. Let the staff in A&E department focus on the treatment rather than to distract them with administrative work which could delay the necessary treatment.

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3.09 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 20-21, 23-24, 28, 35, 37, 39-45, 47-52, 54-58 and 62-64 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 17-19, 22, 25-27, 29-34, 36, 38, 46, 53 and 59-61 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 22 November 2011. ]

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