SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL (Remission of fees)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Acting Minister for Health (a) what is the number of patients given remission of medical treatment fees since the corporatization of Singapore General Hospital in April 1989; and (b) what arrangements are being made to assist patients having difficulties in paying for their medical treatment.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore General Hospital was administered as a restructured hospital as from 1st April 1989. For the month of April 1989, 15 inpatients representing 0.2% of all B2 class inpatients and 103 outpatients representing 0.6% of the B2 outpatients were granted remission of medical treatment fees. In addition, about 90 inpatients and 255 outpatients had their fees automatically waived as they were on the Public Assistance Scheme or had been issued with the Medical Fee Exemption Cards.

The hospital assists patients who have difficulty in paying for their medical treatment by allowing:

(a) patients to pay by instalments;

(b) the use of Medisave by the patient's immediate family members (ie, spouse, parents, children, or grandchildren);

(c) the use of future Medisave contributions provided the patient is admitted to a B2 class ward;

(d) the use of siblings' Medisave provided the patient is admitted to a B2 class ward and is solely dependent on his/her siblings.

If the patient is still unable to pay for his medical treatment with the above assistance, he or she is referred to the hospital's Medical Social Work Department for a review of the socio-economic and financial circumstances of the patient and his/her family. If the patient satisfies the hospital's criteria for remission of fees, the Medical Social Worker wil recommend his/her application to the hospital management for approval.

In addition to the above, patients on the Public Assistance Scheme and residents of the Ministry of Community Development welfare homes and approved voluntary welfare organizations issued with Medical Fee Exemption Cards will have their medical fees automatically waived. Fees are also automatically waived for patients who are financial hardship cases and who have been issued with the Medical Fee Exemption Card by the Medical Social Work Departments of Government hospitals.