That’s a four—fold jump from the 19,000 who are currently on the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.
Currently, needy elderly registered with the Primary Care Partnership Scheme can get a subsidy when seeing their neighbourhood doctors for acute conditions like coughs and colds.
But for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, they’ll need to wait their turn in crowded polyclinics to get subsidised care.
But come January, patients with chronic diseases can get an annual subsidy of up to S$360 to see their neighbourhood general practitioners. It is much more convenient than going to the polyclinics, and it also means a more personal relationship with one’s doctor.
The Health Ministry said the subsidy will cover about 70 to 90 per cent of their total medication cost, assuming generic drugs are used where possible.
However, for a small group of patients who require many types of drugs, their medicine bills may still cost less in polyclinics than at neighbourhood clinics.
It’ll cost the government S$10 million a year but some doctors feel the government should spend more.
Dr Eric Chiam, DaySpring Medical Clinic, said: "The defining criteria for the patients themselves will attrite the qualifying pool to just a few. Those who are on public assistance scheme, those who are above 65 with a per capita income of less than S$800, as well as those who are disabled.
“So in terms of the pool per se, it is not a very sizeable pool. That is one of the limitations. The numbers may not be large, and even if it is large, it is not uniformly spread across the different towns. There are certain estates where there will be a larger proportion and certain estates with a younger crowd."
So far, 315 clinics have joined the scheme and the Health Ministry is hoping more will sign up.
But some doctors are reluctant because of the administrative work and computerised submission of clinical data and claims. — CNA/vm
Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd.
December 15, 2008
SINGAPORE: Expanded medical aid to benefit 80,000 needy elderly
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SINGAPORE / Channel NewsAsia / December 15, 2008
Come January 2009, some 80,000 senior citizens stand to benefit once a national medical subsidy scheme for needy elderly is expanded to include chronic diseases like diabetes.
That’s a four—fold jump from the 19,000 who are currently on the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.
Currently, needy elderly registered with the Primary Care Partnership Scheme can get a subsidy when seeing their neighbourhood doctors for acute conditions like coughs and colds.
But for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, they’ll need to wait their turn in crowded polyclinics to get subsidised care.
But come January, patients with chronic diseases can get an annual subsidy of up to S$360 to see their neighbourhood general practitioners. It is much more convenient than going to the polyclinics, and it also means a more personal relationship with one’s doctor.
The Health Ministry said the subsidy will cover about 70 to 90 per cent of their total medication cost, assuming generic drugs are used where possible.
However, for a small group of patients who require many types of drugs, their medicine bills may still cost less in polyclinics than at neighbourhood clinics.
It’ll cost the government S$10 million a year but some doctors feel the government should spend more.
Dr Eric Chiam, DaySpring Medical Clinic, said: "The defining criteria for the patients themselves will attrite the qualifying pool to just a few. Those who are on public assistance scheme, those who are above 65 with a per capita income of less than S$800, as well as those who are disabled.
“So in terms of the pool per se, it is not a very sizeable pool. That is one of the limitations. The numbers may not be large, and even if it is large, it is not uniformly spread across the different towns. There are certain estates where there will be a larger proportion and certain estates with a younger crowd."
So far, 315 clinics have joined the scheme and the Health Ministry is hoping more will sign up.
But some doctors are reluctant because of the administrative work and computerised submission of clinical data and claims. — CNA/vm
Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd.
That’s a four—fold jump from the 19,000 who are currently on the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.
Currently, needy elderly registered with the Primary Care Partnership Scheme can get a subsidy when seeing their neighbourhood doctors for acute conditions like coughs and colds.
But for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, they’ll need to wait their turn in crowded polyclinics to get subsidised care.
But come January, patients with chronic diseases can get an annual subsidy of up to S$360 to see their neighbourhood general practitioners. It is much more convenient than going to the polyclinics, and it also means a more personal relationship with one’s doctor.
The Health Ministry said the subsidy will cover about 70 to 90 per cent of their total medication cost, assuming generic drugs are used where possible.
However, for a small group of patients who require many types of drugs, their medicine bills may still cost less in polyclinics than at neighbourhood clinics.
It’ll cost the government S$10 million a year but some doctors feel the government should spend more.
Dr Eric Chiam, DaySpring Medical Clinic, said: "The defining criteria for the patients themselves will attrite the qualifying pool to just a few. Those who are on public assistance scheme, those who are above 65 with a per capita income of less than S$800, as well as those who are disabled.
“So in terms of the pool per se, it is not a very sizeable pool. That is one of the limitations. The numbers may not be large, and even if it is large, it is not uniformly spread across the different towns. There are certain estates where there will be a larger proportion and certain estates with a younger crowd."
So far, 315 clinics have joined the scheme and the Health Ministry is hoping more will sign up.
But some doctors are reluctant because of the administrative work and computerised submission of clinical data and claims. — CNA/vm
Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd.
