GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS (Charges)

Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the rate of charges payable by a person who makes use of the services and facilities provided by Government hospitals and outpatient clinics; and (b) whether he will consider waiving the charges payable by a person on the second or subsequent visit to a hospital or outpatient clinic for the change or removal of dressing which does not entail any consultation with the doctor.

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the rates of charges for medical services provided in Government hospitals and outpatient clinics would be too long and complicated to detail. They are recorded in a printed pamphlet entitled The Scheme of Charges for Government Hospital Services (including Outpatient Services) 1969. This pamphlet may be purchased by any member of the public at $1 a copy, either from the Government Printer or from the Publications Bureau at Fullerton Building. A copy will be made available to the Member for his information if he so desires.

Very briefly and without going into detail, the Scheme of Charges prescribes the charges for the various services, and, in certain cases, sets out the categories of persons eligible for exemption from charges for in-patient hospital services and for out-patient services.

The hospital in-patient charges are of two categories, namely, ward charges and service charges.

(i) These charges vary according to the type of patients (medical, surgical or psychiatric) and the class of ward into which he seeks admission. For medical and surgical patients, the daily ward charge is as follows: - Class A - $45 per day Class B - $20 per day Class C - A token charge of $1 per day. The charges for psychiatric patients are different, being $20 and $10 per day for A and B classes respectively.

(ii) Service charges may be taken as charges for treatments, investigations and other services which are charged according to the type of service given. These services would be too long to describe here. The service charge for delivery in the maternity hospital, e.g., is $200 for A Class and $100 for B Class.

(iii) Charges for outpatients are made on the basis of each attendance and vary according to the outpatient services provided. At the travelling dispensaries, the charge is 20 cents per attendance; at the outpatient dispensaries, it is 80 cents per attendance on week days and $1.50 per attendance on Sundays and public holidays. At the specialists clinics in the hospitals, the rate is $1.50 per attendance. The attendance charge in each case is an all-in charge.

Replying to the second part of the question, I would say that the outpatient attendance charge, whether at specialist medical clinics, outpatient dispensaries or travelling dispensaries, is merely a nominal one. It does not come any way near the total cost of the services provided. It is only a consolidated charge for the various services provided, which include the professional attention of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and others, the provision of medicines and the carrying out of investigations. Thus, it will not be possible to agree to a waiver of these nominal charges merely because the patient may not have seen the doctor when attending the dispensary to have his dressing changed. There are still costs for the services provided by the nurse and other incidental expenses which could be accounted for in the nominal charge levied.

Mr N. Govindasamy: Does the Minister consider the charges of 80 cents and $1.50 for the second and third visits respectively merely to remove a dressing justified?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I repeat what I have just said. I said that the charge of 80 cents is, in fact, an attendance charge. Secondly, it is a nominal charge and it is, in fact, not possible to work out the cost of each attendance. As I have said earlier, this is a consolidated charge and we have to make a flat rate charge.

Mr N. Govindasamy: Sir, will the Minister at least consider the waiving of these charges for cases which are in receipt of public assistance from the Social Welfare Department?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the charges are normally waived in cases where the persons are receiving social welfare assistance, if an application is made.