Out-of-pocket Healthcare Expenditure by Income Quintile over Past Five Years and Proportion of Households Exceeding 10% of Household Income Threshold

Dr Hamid Razak asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the median and 90th percentile annual out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure of resident households by income quintile over the past five years; and (b) whether the Ministry monitors the proportion of households whose out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure exceeds 10% of household income.

Based on the latest Household Expenditure Survey (HES) in 2023, the annual out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditure per household member by income quintile is shown in Table 1 below, prior to any assistance through MediFund and/or charity.

The Ministry of Health does not monitor the proportion of households whose OOP healthcare expenditure exceeds 10% of household income. Needy patients may speak to a medical social worker at the institution where they are receiving care, to apply for MediFund assistance.