SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL (Class B2 and Class C ward charges)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Health how comparable are the ward charges for Class B2 and Class C in the Singapore General Hospital to other restructured hospitals and whether there are plans to revise these charges.

The Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, currently the daily ward charge for Class B2 in the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is $40 compared to $38 in the National University Hospital (NUH) and $28 in the Government hospitals. The daily ward charge in the other restructured hos- pitals, namely Toa Payoh Hospital and Kandang Kerbau Hospital, is also $28.

The Class C ward charge in SGH is $22 per day, and in the other Government and restructured hospitals, it is $17 per day.

Sir, manpower costs make up over 70% of the operating costs of a hospital. The hospitals must pay competitive salaries in order to attract new staff and to retain existing staff, otherwise the level of service will suffer. It is inevitable that as wages go up, fees must also increase. However, over 80% of Class C and 70% of Class B2 cost increases are absorbed by the Government, ie, patients pay less than 20% and 30% of the cost increases respectively.

SGH had made some minor fee adjustments in January this year, and has no plans for a general fee revision at the present moment.

Dr Vasoo: Sir, what is the average bill size of Class C patients in SGH as compared to the same class in the other restructured hospitals?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the average bill size per day for SGH is $59 and in the other restructured and Government hospitals, it is about $52 per day.