Utilisation of CHAS Blue Card Subsidies

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health (a) how many CHAS blue card holders have used up the maximum amount of subsidies they are entitled to in the past three years; and (b) whether the Ministry will increase the $480 annual cap on CHAS subsidies for chronic conditions.

Mdm Speaker, between 2014 and 2016, there was an average of about 550,000 Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) blue cardholders. Each year, about 2% of them use the maximum subsidies for the treatment of chronic conditions.

Besides CHAS, the Ministry supports chronic disease patients who seek care and treatment at general practitioners (GPs) in other ways. For example, patients can use up to $400 per year per MediSave account under the Chronic Disease Management Programme to defray their cash payment for the treatment of 19 chronic conditions. Through initiatives, such as the Family Medicine Clinics and upcoming Primary Care Networks, we are also providing support to selected GPs to deliver more effective chronic disease management for patients.

Just now, the Minister of State mentioned that the amount per MediSave account, including their children's accounts, and for those cases where their children do not have money to support them, is there any other way that we can seek help for our residents?

Madam, I thank Er Dr Lee Bee Wah for her supplementary question. As I had mentioned in my earlier reply to the Member, for patients who require further financial assistance, they can approach our medical social workers in the public healthcare institutions. We will look at each case and see how best we can help.

In cases where a patient's MediSave is inadequate, the patient can first look at whether the children's MediSave can be tapped on. I believe that family support is important. So, that would be the first area that we can tap on. But if the children's MediSave accounts are also inadequate and the patient requires more assistance, they can approach medical social workers at our public healthcare institutions. We will see, for each case, how best to assist them.