CHRONIC SICK

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Health what is the income profile of chronic sick patients who need long-term health care services and who attended Government and Government restructured hospital clinics and polyclinics, as at end December 1999.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Chronic sick patients refer to patients suffering from chronic degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis. These patients will require long term care.

As income is not a criterion for seeking medical care at Government Polyclinics, data on the income profile of chronic sick patients is not captured on a routine basis.

Currently, 68% of the nursing beds are provided by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) which cater to the poor and the lower income groups. In July, the Government implemented a 3-tier subsidy scheme of 75%, 50% and 25% for care in VWO nursing homes. Previously, there were only 2 subsidy rates, 75% for those on public assistance and 50% for households with monthly income less than $2,000.

As at December 1999, 51% of the patients seeking long-term care in MOH funded VWO nursing homes were on public assistance, 39% were from households with monthly income of less than $2,000, and 10% from households earning more than $2,000 per month.

The new 3-tier subsidy scheme considers the household size and a higher quantum is given to larger households with lower income. Household with per capita income of less than $300 per month will receive 75% subsidy. Those with per capita income of between $301 and $500 per month will receive 50% and those with per capita income of $501 and $700 per month will receive 25% subsidy. The new 3-tier subsidy framework will result in higher subsidy for care in VWO nursing homes. Data on patients by per capita income is not available as yet as the 3-tier subsidy scheme was implemented in July 2000.