MEDICAL SUBSIDIES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS (Reduction)

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Education what are the reasons for the wide variation in medical subsidy per student in the four tertiary institutions which ranges from $9 per student in the Ngee Ann Polytechnic to $64 per student in the Nanyang Technological Institute; and what measures are being taken to reduce the higher medical subsidies for the Singapore Polytechnic, National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological Institute.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am replying on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the Auditor-General has, in his latest Report, drawn the attention of the Ministry to the wide variations in the provision of subsidised medical services to students at our tertiary institutions. In FY 87, the extent of subsidy per student ranged from $9 per student in the Ngee Ann Polytechnic to $64 per student in the Nanyang Technological Institute. The variations in the subsidies are due to the different arrangements made by the respective tertiary institutions to provide medical services to their students. Generally, the subsidies are higher in those institutions which employ full-time doctors and nurses to man their clinics. The Ministry is conducting a review on the provision of medical services to students in our tertiary institutions and the level of subsidy per student.

Mr Yeo Toon Chia (Ang Mo Kio): Sir, would the Senior Minister of State enlighten the House whether it is cheaper to ask the students to consult a general practitioner at a private clinic instead of providing a full-time medical officer at these institutions?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, that will be one of the topics to be considered under the review that I mentioned.