Tag Archives: Ministry of Health

Singapore is finding it harder to retain its title as the region's top medical tourism hub as patients eye cheaper options elsewhere while government support for the sector wanes, a new report has warned. It also noted that the challenges will only intensify as improved standards in neighbouring cities test the price premiums here, which are further exacerbated by a strong Singapore dollar.

I saw this interesting article on the Straits Times today. The article says that 1 in 3 Singaporeans, 1.2 million people in all, are now on the Community Health Assist Scheme, including members of the pioneer generation who are eligible for other special CHAS subsidies. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the CHAS be for lower income groups only?

Few would dispute that healthcare is one of the biggest challenges facing Singapore as we look to the next 50 years. The twin challenges of ageing and chronic diseases are straining our healthcare system, further exacerbated by concerns around rising healthcare costs and delays in the opening of the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. I suspect though, in a decade, we will look back to 2014 much more kindly as the turning point in our healthcare system.

Shisha is no less hamful than other forms of tobacco use, so the Ministry of Health (MOH) intends to prohibit the import, distribution and sale of shisha from later this month, said Parlimentary Secretary for MOH Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 4).

Private hospital charges do not fall under the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) purview; private hospitals set their fees independently. According to the Singapore Medical Council’s Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines, a doctor cannot abuse the doctor-patient relationship for personal gain. This means a doctor shall not let financial considerations imposed by his own practice, investments or financial arrangements influence the objectivity of his clinical judgment in the treatment of his patients.

I have a very bad experience at Parkway East Hospital (formerly know as East Shore Hospital). My worker was admitted to this hospital. We were told by the staff that the management insisted that we have to make full payment before they will start the operation. Our worker's severed fingers are waiting to be stitched back. The best part is we were told to swipe 6 credit cards to make up the amount. What am I supposed to do if I don't own so many cards? Leave my staff to die?

I approached my Member of Parliament, Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC), for a letter requesting that I be allowed to use my Medisave for my monthly medical fees. He graciously helped me. The reply, though, was that I could use my Medisave only when it is a critical condition. I then said that if I stop taking the medication, I would have liver cancer and it would be too late. There was no further reply. In Japan, I paid only about US$1 (S$1.26) a day, after subsidy, for my daily pill.