SUBSIDIES FOR HOME-BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES

SUBSIDIES FOR HOME-BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES: * * *

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(Review): **

3.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry is reviewing the provision of subsidies for home-based healthcare services to help families who prefer to keep their sick elderly at home and, if so, when will this be implemented.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We are supportive of families who want to care for their sick elderly at home. A wide range of community-based long-term care services, such as day rehabilitation and dementia day care, are available. Depending on their household income, the patients may qualify for varying levels of subsidies for such care. In addition, we are engaging General Practitioners to provide subsidised outpatient medical services to the needy elderly.

We have also made subsidies available for home medical and nursing services for needy patients who are unable to leave their homes because of their disabilities. However, these services are very costly to provide.

Long-term care will grow and its funding will pose significant burden to both families and society. That is why we introduced ElderShield and its Supplements and we encourage Singaporeans to subscribe to them. With payouts in cash, patients can then decide if they want their care to be at home or in an appropriate institution. The former may be preferred by some families but it will be more expensive. Government subsidy for the needy will have to bias towards the less costly option. But this is an evolving issue and regular reviews are necessary as we understand the subject and the needs of the patients better. We will do more where practical, but we need to ensure that it is sustainable.

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