SINGAPORE: A comprehensive review, or a complete do—away with
the Medisave, Medishield and MediFund schemes?
These were some of the questions raised at a forum on
Singapore’s healthcare policies.
The forum, held at the National University of Singapore’s
Tembusu College, saw a panel of health experts speak on the
challenges and gaps in the Singapore healthcare system.
Medisave, Medishield and MediFund, or the 3Ms, cover between 10
and 15 per cent of Singaporeans’ total healthcare expenditure, said
Dr Phua Kai Hong, who is from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public
Policy.
Some at the forum asked if coverage should be increased to lower
citizens’ out—of—pocket spending.
Singapore currently spends about 4
per cent of its GDP on healthcare every year. This is compared to
an average of 9.6 per cent for
other advanced economies.
Several panellists called for a thorough review of the
healthcare system.
"There’s far too much emphasis on the financial sustainability
of the system. Often this is to the detriment of the individual
patient. So the patient has to struggle with means testing, with
going to family members to tap on their Medisave accounts In this
national conversation, how can we ensure better financial
protection of the individual, even if the state assumes a little
bit more of this risk? If we can do that, I think many Singaporeans
(would be able to) genuinely have that peace of mind," said Dr
Jeremy Lim, who is a principal consultant with Insights Health
Associates.
"Healthcare is a basic human right; most of us do not choose to
get sick As a society we need to pull our risk together and that’s
why we believe a compulsory health insurance system, administered
through central means, is the best way of doing this," said Paul
Ananth Tambyah, who is an associate professor at the National
University of Singapore’s Yong Yoo Lin School of Medicine.
However Dr Lam Pin Min, who is chairman of the Government
Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health, said that there was no
perfect healthcare system.
"Having had the 3M system for the past 20 years, we (know) what
they can do and what they cannot do. If the Ministry of Health is
able to have a thorough review, the 3M system (could) evolve (into)
a better system," said Dr Lam.
— CNA/jc
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cut down on military spending and use it on healthcare!!!
the aim is clear. but some people just like to fake sick and take
MC. in this ccase we should not subsidise their excuse to take mc
fake siao or ill. how to identify and isolate such cases?
also i have doubts on doctors at times.
just ejaculated and go for urine test doc say my uring got
protein write a lette refer me to specialist. 
go dentist to fill up cavity the dentist use drills to drill my
cavity weven bigger when its expose and very sensitive already
painful still drill. should use manual scrapper to clean internal
before the paste fill up. or did out medical industry have
some chemical that can be applie on sensitive cavities for cleaning
then apply fill up paste?
