The Government has decided to shave off health subsidies given
to permanent residents by 10 percentage points.
This is in a bid to make a sharper distinction between the
privileges a citizen are entitled to, as compared to a permanent
resident.
Currently, citizens enjoy heavy subsidies in Class B2 and C wards,
while PRs receive significant subsidy and foreigners don't get any
at all.
With the revision, citizens are still entitled to an 80 per cent
subsidy for a Class C ward.
But PRs will be entitled to 60 per cent of cost, down from 70 per
cent.
The Health Ministry says the reduction will be implemented in three
stages.
This is to make it easier for PRs to adjust to the new
policy.
From January 1 next year , the subsidy for PRs in Class B2 and C
wards in public hospitals as well as specialist outpatient clinics
will be cut by five percentage-points.
In July next year, it will be cut another five
percentage-points.
At the same time (also in July 2011), the subsidy for PRs in the
intermediate and long-term care sector like community hospitals and
nursing homes will be cut by 5 percentage-points.
The last phase comes in January 2012, where another five
percentage-point reduction will apply to community hospitals and
nursing homes.
This means that by 2010, PRs will receive 20 percentage-points less
healthcare subsidies than citizens.
--938Live