Spend more on health care to help the poor

03 Jun 2006, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Leong Sze Hian

Spend more on health care to help the poor

HEALTH-CARE spending of the lowest 20 per cent of households by income had the highest increase of 81 per cent among all items of expenditure from 1998 to 2004. 

According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) World Health Report 2004, Singapore's per capita government expenditure on health, at an average exchange rate, fell gradually from US$365 (S$577) in 1997 to US$274 in 2001. 

The WHO Report 2005 showed that Singapore's general government expenditure on health - as a percentage of total expenditure on health - declined gradually from 41.6 to 30.9 per cent from 1998 to 2002. 

General government expenditure on health as a percentage of total government expenditure also dropped from 8.7 to 5.9 per cent for the same period. 

We should spend more on health care to help the poor.

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Health-care subsidies have risen progressively 

In "Spend more on healthcare to help the poor" ("Special report, Poverty: Generation Next : Response", ST, June 3), Mr Leong Sze Hian quoted some WHO data to conclude that Singapore had over the years reduced its expenditure on healthcare for the poor. 

But Mr Leong's conclusion is incorrect. The WHO data he quoted has included major capital spending on environmental health projects, such as the incinerator plants. Such investments are lumpy and would fluctuate year by year. 

The fact is that the Government has progressively increased its subsidies for subsidised patients. These subsidies have been rising steadily from $560 million in 1997 to $850 million in 2000, and further to $1.39 billion in 2005. The Government will continue to do more as needed. Singaporeans should also play their part, by adopting a healthy lifestyle, contribute regularly to Medisave and subscribe to a good medical insurance plan.