http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,356344,00.html?
Continue free treatment for infectious diseases
?
In the second article it was stated that 'with the free treatment
for dengue and chickenpox patients at the Communicable Disease
Centre (CDC) already stopped, the Health Ministry now wants to
review the no-charge policy for other infectious diseases as
well'.
I would like to suggest that this policy review be re-considered in
the light of heightened fears about a possible bird-flu
pandemic.
The Minister Mentor recently expressed concern over the spread of
bird flu and warned Singaporeans not to take it lightly.
All we need is for maybe just one infected person to hesitate
seeking treatment or hospitalisation because of financial reasons,
and the result could be the death of thousands and economic losses
in the billions.
With about 240,000 people earning less than $1,000 a month, 74,000
needy households in the ComCare database, and around 39,000 HDB
households in arrears on their service and conservancy charges, the
$272 mean cost of hospital treatment for dengue at CDC's adjoining
Tan Tock Seng Hospital for a C-class patient may be a financial
strain on the lower-income group. The cost for flu may be higher as
the typical stay in hospital may be longer
It may thus be penny wise and pound foolish to save $400,000 a year
from stopping free treatment for 1,180 patients, compared to the
risks should infectious diseases spread. Saving lives is paramount
and should be weighed against any cost savings.
I was struck by the contrast between US
President George Bush's US$7.1 billion (S$12 billion) plan to cope
with a flu pandemic and Singapore's termination of free treatment
for infectious diseases to save just
$400,000.
The historical rationale for offering free treatment in the hope
that patients would seek treatment and so prevent the spread of
infectious diseases may still be sound, as we never know what new
diseases we may have to contend with, like Sars and a flu
pandemic.
The fact that the number of chickenpox patients seen at the CDC has
dropped from 60 a month to just six in two months could mean either
that they are going elsewhere for treatment because it is no longer
free, or that some may be delaying or avoiding treatment
altogether.
The latter is particularly true of foreign workers, who, besides
having to foot the bill, may fear having their wages cut, or even
losing their jobs.
Leong Sze Hian
