PRIVATE CLINICS (Publication of fees)

Column: 586

PRIVATE CLINICS:

(Publication of fees): 8.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health what is the Ministry's policy on private clinics publicising their fees to the public considering that the Ministry is now encouraging public sector hospitals to be more transparent by publicising their fees as part of the overall policy to contain healthcare costs.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry encourages all healthcare institutions to be transparent with their charges. This will enable their patients to have a better idea of what to expect.

Column: 587

However, merely publishing the fee schedule is often of little practical use to patients. To be meaningful, information on charges has to be properly compiled, tabulated and suitably organised by disease conditions.