Ensuring fairness

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan listed five criteria for means testing to be fair:

Patients must retain the freedom to choose the ward they want.

All C- and B2-class patients will be subisidised, but to different degrees. Higher-income patients will be subsidised less, but their bills will remain affordable.

Assessment of a patient's ability to pay must be kept simple.

Means testing must be sensitive to the circumstances of retirees and others who are not working, and who fear their savings could be wiped out by big hospital bills.

No patient will be denied treatment because he cannot afford it.