MEDISAVE

Mr Arthur Fong asked the Minister for Health if the Government will consider allowing Medisave to pay for the hospitalisation and delivery cost for the fourth child, as there is a growing number of Singaporeans affected by the current ruling, and falling fertility rate, which currently at 1.48, is among the lowest in the world.

The Minister of State for Health (Dr Balaji Sadasivan) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to clarify that Medisave is primarily intended for inpatient hospitalisation expenses. For maternity purposes, Medisave may be used for the delivery of a woman's first three children. This is in line with the national population policy of encouraging couples to have three or more children only if they can afford it. Couples who decide to have a fourth child or more must rely on their own finances rather than on Medisave to pay for the delivery expenses.