Reviewing Shingles Vaccination Subsidy Frameworks Across Polyclinics and Private GP Clinics for Merdeka Generation Cardholders

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry will review subsidy frameworks for shingles vaccination to ensure greater consistency in out-of-pocket costs for Merdeka Generation cardholders across polyclinics and private general practitioner (GP) clinics, given feedback that current means-testing arrangements may result in higher charges at polyclinics compared to private clinics.

It is challenging to achieve consistency because the subsidy frameworks at polyclinics and general practitioner (GP) clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) are different.

For example, vaccination subsidies for the Pioneer Generation (PG) and the Merdeka Generation (MG) cardholders are means-tested at public healthcare institutions, while at CHAS GP clinics, the subsidy framework is kept simple, with all PG and MG cardholders enjoy a fixed dollar subsidy.

Regardless, even if one is cheaper than the other, it is still due to Government subsidies.