ACCOUCHEMENT FEES VIS-A-VIS POPULATION POLICY

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the Acting Minister for Health whether he is aware that the present accouchement charges for the third, fourth, fifth and subsequent child in government hospitals are in conflict with the present policy of government to promote more childbirths in Singapore and whether he will reduce such hospital charges.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The Government's population policy encourages parents to have three children, and for those who can afford it, to have more. This is because having children and bringing them up is very expensive.

The accouchement fees for the first, second and third child are heavily subsidised. However, the accouchement fees for the fourth and higher order births are not subsidised, and are therefore higher. This is consistent with the Government's current population policy. My Ministry therefore does not intend to reduce such accouchement fees in the future. table - EXAMPLES OF MANDATORY MINIMUM CANING PROVISIONS FOUND IN OUR STATUTES (Cols. 227 - 230)