MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES OF GOVERNMENT AIDED SCHOOL STAFF

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Education, in view of the taking over of two British hospitals, recently, if the Government will consider extending medical benefits to the families of the staff serving in Government-aided schools.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, when the medical benefits accorded to Government servants were extended to aided school staff with effect from 1st September, 1970, it was announced that the same medical benefits would be extended to their families when sufficient ward accommodation became available. Although the Ministry of Health has taken over Alexandra Hospital and Sembawang Hospital, the necessary medical facilities, in particular ward accommodation, are not immediately available to give a reasonably satisfactory service to the persons concerned.

Alexandra Hospital was taken over with effect from 10th September, 1971, and is not fully operational as yet. The present service is limited to medical and paediatric cases only. The Surgical, Orthopaedic, and Obstetrical Units have not yet been established. The paying class wards which will be required to accommodate members of the families of aided school staff are also not ready yet. The other services will be provided by stages as the relevant equipment is purchased and installed, and structural alterations to the building are carried out.

Sembawang Hospital is a small hospital with 68 "C" class beds. It has been set aside for the use of convalescent cases only.

In view of the above, Sir, it is not possible at the moment to extend the medical benefits enjoyed by aided school staff to families. However, when Alexandra Hospital becomes fully operational, i.e., when it is able to provide the full range of services and the structural alterations to the building are completed, this matter will again be considered.

Mr N. Govindasamy (Telok Blangah): Sir, if at the moment the medical authorities cannot provide ward facilities for members of families of those teachers who are employed in the aided schools, can they at least provide them with outpatient services? And if they cannot, why not?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I believe it would be more profitable if the Member directed his question to the Minister for Health.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chua, would you like to answer that supplementary question?

The Minister for Health (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Sir, I think that matter does not fall within my portfolio, because if it is decided that we provide' them with outpatient services, then we will provide them.

Mr N. Govindasamy: May I have your guidance, Mr Speaker, Sir? To whom shall I direct my question if the Minister for Health thinks that it does, not concern him?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir,. I have said that as soon as facilities, are available and since a promise has been made, we will extend medical benefits to the families of aided school teachers. But whether the hospitals can undertake operations on members of their families -

Mr Speaker: Outpatient services.

Mr Lim Kim San: I am sorry. I thought it was operations. Sir, there are outpatient facilities available all over Singapore, and there is no reason why they cannot go to the hospitals for outpatient treatment.

Mr N. Govindasamy: Sir, for out-patient treatment they have got to pay at the moment. The point raised was, this: as Government servants are accorded free outpatient treatment as well as ward treatment, why should not suck benefits be extended to the families of aided school teachers?

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, applications can be made to the Ministry of Finance for a waiver of these fees, if necessary.