HOSPITAL CHARGES (Increases)

Mr Lee Choon Eng asked the Minister for Health whether he will make a statement explaining the reasons for the increases in the Hospital Charges in respect of the 1st and 2nd Class Wards in Government Hospitals.

Mr A. J. Braga: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Hospitals Board recommended an increase in the ward charges in the General Hospital and the Kandang Kerbau Hospital. This was carefully considered by Government, and Government, after going through the various aspects, decided to accept the recommendation to raise costs as it was considered that the present charges were most uneconomical. It is also the policy of Government, in accordance with the Labour Front programme, to provide hospitalisation and specialist treatment free to one and all, and the provision of special wards to be maintained for those who can afford it. There is no difference whatsoever in treatment of patients, whether they are paying or non-paying.

It might be of interest to Members to know that the 1956 recurrent cost of running our hospitals is estimated at more than $21 million, whereas the total revenue from hospital charges is estimated at only $1,500,000. The cost of maintenance of beds in the General and Kandang Kerbau Hospitals is estimated from 1955 figures to be as follows: General Hospital Paying patients (A) cost $27.74 per bed; Paying patients (B) cost $26.07 per bed; Free patients cost $24.33 per bed. Kandang Kerbau Hospital Paying patients (A) cost $22.62 per bed; Paying patients (B) cost $21.76 per bed; Free patients cost $20.61 per bed. It will therefore be seen that even the first-class patients have been subsidised by Government.

The number of first and second class beds in these two hospitals are as follows:

In the General Hospital, out of a total of 1,005 beds, there are only 46 first-class beds and 121 second-class beds and 838 free beds.

In the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, out of a total of 390 beds, there are only 29 first-class, 37 second-class and 324 free beds.

The only hospitals in which there is accommodation for paying patients are the General, the Kandang Kerbau and the Woodbridge Hospitals. In the Tan Tock Seng, the Middle Road and St. Andrew's Orthopaedic Hospitals, all beds are free. It will therefore be seen that, for a great majority of patients, no charge of any kind is levied and Government considered that it was justified in asking first-class patients to pay an economic fee and to ask the second-class patients to pay a slightly higher contribution towards the cost of upkeep of second-class beds. It is not considered that the new charges are excessive as compared with rates prevailing in other countries with a comparable standard of living.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister tell this House why, if it is the Labour Front's policy to provide as much medical facilities as possible, there should be an increase in charges in respect of second-class wards? Is it justified?

Mr Braga: It might be of information to the Member for Queenstown to know that the Director of Medical Services and the Chief Medical Officer have a discretion to give a rebate on charges in respect of second-class patients and, in some cases of proved hardship, not to charge anything at all.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Sir, can the Minister tell us how the question of hardship is assessed? Is it just on the question of poverty or is it a question of money?

Mr Braga: All circumstances are taken into consideration - a person's salary, a person's family, and the number of children and so forth who are dependent on him.