ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY TREATMENT

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ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY TREATMENT:

(Inclusion of patients at private hospitals): 17.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will review its current policy on Government's co-funding scheme for Assisted Reproduction Technology treatment to include patients at private hospitals.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, the patients in Singapore can choose between public and private hospitals for their treatment. Both provide a high standard of clinical care, but at different prices because public hospitals are heavily subsidised.

For infertility treatment, the expertise is available in both sectors. Just to give

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an example, last year, 2,100 patients sought infertility treatment. Public hospitals treated more than half of them. Success rates of the treatment are also comparable, with public hospitals averaging 27%, and private hospitals, 24%. The cost of treatment is generally lower in the public hospitals.

My Ministry’s decision to subsidise infertility treatment in public hospitals is within the context of our policy towards healthcare subsidies. Patients are not subsidised in private hospitals, as comparable services are available in public hospitals. Our approach for infertility treatment is the same. This way, Government subsidy will focus help on those couples who find it difficult to afford treatment in private clinics.

Mr Speaker: Yes, Ms Lee. One minute left.

Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Two supplementary questions: first, can the Ministry consider giving a subsidy but putting a cap for those patients in the private hospitals? And the second question – this is a feedback from my resident – is it true that for those couples who have two live births in the current marriage, then they are not entitled to the subsidy?

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: On the first question, the answer is "no" because, as I have explained, we do not subsidise care in private hospitals unless there are specific circumstances. I am ideologically not against having subsidies in private hospitals where, for example, we are not able to cope with the volume or we lack such expertise. For example, there was once when we subsidised a liver transplant in the private hospital. So, I have no problem subsidising private hospitals but there must be a purpose for it. In this case, there is no need as such capabilities and capacity are available in the public hospitals.

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For the second question, the answer is "yes".

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 22, 27 and 29-30 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 18-21, 23-26, 28 and 31-40 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 16th September 2008 .]

*Cols. 161-168.

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