Singapore operates on the free market principle. The service
providers charge what the market can bear, with the objective of
maximising their profit. Businesses are free to price and consumers
are free to choose.
If you need medical attention urgently, then you have to pay. If
$48 is too high, then wait for the polyclinic to re-open. If
consultation is $4.80 on a public holiday, there will be long
queues at the GP clinic and the doctor will be overworked on a
public holiday. Who is to decide what is a fair price?
The only way to bring down prices in general, be it broadband,
mobile telephony, transport or plumbing services is to have
competition and readily available price information.
