Waiver of GST on Medical Consumables for Kidney Dialysis

Debated in Parliament on 21 Oct 2013.

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David Ong asked if the GST waiver on kidney dialysis medical consumables could be extended to all patients, noting that some opt for private dialysis due to limited space or conditions at government-related centres.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that Singapore maintains a broad-based GST system with minimal exemptions to keep rates low, using targeted subsidies and GST absorption for lower- and middle-income patients at government-funded VWO dialysis centres.
The government recently expanded subsidies to cover up to the 67th percentile of households, increasing the number of patients receiving GST absorption by about 40%, and aims to ensure adequate capacity in subsidized centres.
While there is generally sufficient capacity in government-funded VWO centres, the government acknowledges regional demand variations and will work to maintain supply, and VWO providers may offer financial assistance to patients unable to use these centres.

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Full Transcript

David Ong

Mr David Ong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Ministry will consider extending the waiver of GST on medical consumables for kidney dialysis to all patients instead of just those receiving treatment at Government-related organisations in view of the fact that many of those needing dialysis choose private dialysis not by choice but because of inadequate space or inability to meet certain conditions of VWO-run centres.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

We have a broad-based GST system, with minimal exemptions. We have chosen this approach so as to keep the GST rate relatively low, rather than have many exemptions and a higher GST rate. With this broad-based GST, our approach to helping the lower-income group is to do so through subsidies and grants that are targeted at benefiting them.

The Government provides means-tested Government subsidies, including an absorption of the GST payable, to lower- and middle-income dialysis patients in Government-funded dialysis centres which are run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs). This approach is aligned to the treatment in other parts of the healthcare system, such as the intermediate and long-term care sector, where GST absorption is only provided to subsidised patients.

To ensure that dialysis treatment remains affordable for Singaporeans, the Government had recently extended these subsidies from the 30th percentile to the 67th percentile of households in April 2013. This has increased the number of dialysis patients receiving subsidies and GST absorption by around 40%.

There is generally adequate capacity within Government-funded VWO dialysis centres for subsidised dialysis patients, which already serve around two-thirds of the patient population today. However, we recognise that there could be certain regions where demand is higher, and will continue to work with Government-funded VWO dialysis centres to ensure that there is sufficient

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capacity to serve the subsidised dialysis population in these areas.

We acknowledge that there could be dialysis patients who are unable to seek treatment at these dialysis centres due to their specific medical conditions. Our VWO dialysis providers will, nonetheless, provide financial assistance to such patients where necessary.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

David Ong asked if the GST waiver on kidney dialysis medical consumables could be extended to all patients, noting that some opt for private dialysis due to limited space or conditions at government-related centres.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that Singapore maintains a broad-based GST system with minimal exemptions to keep rates low, using targeted subsidies and GST absorption for lower- and middle-income patients at government-funded VWO dialysis centres.
The government recently expanded subsidies to cover up to the 67th percentile of households, increasing the number of patients receiving GST absorption by about 40%, and aims to ensure adequate capacity in subsidized centres.
While there is generally sufficient capacity in government-funded VWO centres, the government acknowledges regional demand variations and will work to maintain supply, and VWO providers may offer financial assistance to patients unable to use these centres.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Waiver of GST on Medical Consumables for Kidney Dialysis | PAPERCUTS

Waiver of GST on Medical Consumables for Kidney Dialysis

Debated in Parliament on 21 Oct 2013.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

David Ong asked if the GST waiver on kidney dialysis medical consumables could be extended to all patients, noting that some opt for private dialysis due to limited space or conditions at government-related centres.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that Singapore maintains a broad-based GST system with minimal exemptions to keep rates low, using targeted subsidies and GST absorption for lower- and middle-income patients at government-funded VWO dialysis centres.
The government recently expanded subsidies to cover up to the 67th percentile of households, increasing the number of patients receiving GST absorption by about 40%, and aims to ensure adequate capacity in subsidized centres.
While there is generally sufficient capacity in government-funded VWO centres, the government acknowledges regional demand variations and will work to maintain supply, and VWO providers may offer financial assistance to patients unable to use these centres.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

David Ong

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Page: 164

capacity to serve the subsidised dialysis population in these areas.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

David Ong asked if the GST waiver on kidney dialysis medical consumables could be extended to all patients, noting that some opt for private dialysis due to limited space or conditions at government-related centres.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that Singapore maintains a broad-based GST system with minimal exemptions to keep rates low, using targeted subsidies and GST absorption for lower- and middle-income patients at government-funded VWO dialysis centres.
The government recently expanded subsidies to cover up to the 67th percentile of households, increasing the number of patients receiving GST absorption by about 40%, and aims to ensure adequate capacity in subsidized centres.
While there is generally sufficient capacity in government-funded VWO centres, the government acknowledges regional demand variations and will work to maintain supply, and VWO providers may offer financial assistance to patients unable to use these centres.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Waiver of GST on Medical Consumables for Kidney Dialysis

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

David Ong

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Summary

Questions Identified

Waiver of GST on Medical Consumables for Kidney Dialysis

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

David Ong

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Summary

Questions Identified