Medifund Continues To Assist Needy Singaporeans With Their Healthcare Needs

1.      The Medical Endowment Fund (MediFund) provided a total of $159.1 million through more than 1.2 million successful applications in assistance to needy Singaporeans for their medical bills in Financial Year (FY) 2019, i.e. for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. This was an increase of $2.6 million compared to the $156.5 million disbursed in FY2018.

2.      MediFund assists needy Singaporean patients who are unable to afford their medical bills, after government subsidies, insurance and MediSave. MediFund Silver and MediFund Junior provide more targeted assistance for the elderly and children respectively. MediFund ensures that no Singaporean will be denied basic medical care due to inability to pay.

3.      The increase in assistance is due to the support extended towards patients in Intermediate and Long-term Care (ILTC) facilities, including the elderly. The key statistics of MediFund assistance provided in FY2019 are:

(i) The number of approved MediFund applications was 1,215,809. This was a 1.9% decrease from the 1,239,578 number of approved applications in FY2018, contributed by a decrease in the total number of applications over the period[1];

(ii) In public hospitals and institutions, a total assistance of $122.8 million was provided to patients, compared to $124.2 million in FY2018;

(iii) In ILTC facilities, a total assistance of $36.2 million was provided to patients, compared to $32.3 million in FY2018; and

(iv) On average, the amount of MediFund assistance provided was about $900 per inpatient treatment, and about $90 per outpatient treatment.

4.      More details can be found in the Medical Endowment Scheme Annual Report 2019/2020.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
30 DECEMBER 2020

[1] Total applications decreased by about 1.7%.