Expanding Use of MediSave for Scans and for Elderly Patients

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health in light of the Ministry's current review of the 3M system of healthcare (a) whether the review will consider expanding the use of Medisave for outpatient CT scans and MRI scans; and (b) whether the review will take into consideration how retirees can fully tap on the 3M system even for outpatient medical services without having to pay cash.

Mdm Speaker, currently, patients can use up to $600 of Medisave per year for outpatient scans required for cancer treatment, as well as up to $400 for outpatient treatment for chronic diseases under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). Nevertheless, Singaporeans have shared with us, including through Our Singapore Conversation, that they are concerned with the cost of scans, as well as for outpatient treatments. As part of our healthcare financing review, we are exploring ways to reduce the cash outlay for outpatient treatments, especially for the elderly, including greater flexibility in the use of Medisave.

However, in deciding on which procedures to allow for Medisave use, we need to strike a judicious balance between helping our people defray the out-of-pocket cost of outpatient treatment and preserving Medisave to help patients pay for larger hospitalisation bills.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister when will the review be completed and the results be known because scanning costs quite a lot and our residents feel that it is quite a strain on their pockets.

Mdm Speaker, I am very heartened by the concern that our Member has for the needy patients and we too are concerned about their needs. We do have schemes in place to help should they require financial assistance, whether it is for scans or outpatient treatment. I assure Er Dr Lee that the Ministry officials are working very hard to try to complete the financial review. But it is a complex issue as it covers all the 3Ms – MediFund, MediShield and MediSave – as well as the Government subsidy as part of it.

There are various factors which we need to balance. We want to ensure that the healthcare services continue to remain affordable. At the same time, we want to encourage prudent use of the healthcare savings of our patients and

Page: 45

we also want to find ways to encourage considered and calibrated decisions on treatment so as to prevent over-consumption. At the end of the day, it is important as we design our healthcare financing framework to continue to have the motivation and incentive for individuals to stay healthy and to strengthen their family support at the same time.

There are many factors that we need to consider and we are working very hard and we will announce them as soon as we are ready. Some of these measures may be announced progressively over a period of time. It need not be a whole package, waiting for the last bit to fall in place. As and when we are ready, as and when the schemes are being worked out, we will announce them accordingly.