A&E subsidies for foreigners less than 1% of $2.2b for public hospitals

Foreigners make up 18 per cent of the 780,000-plus Accident and Emergency (A&E) patients treated at public hospitals each year, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Monday. But government subsidies given to foreigner A&E patients at $14 million yearly is less than 1 per cent of the annual $2.2 billion government subsidies given to public hospitals, he added.

Mr Gan gave these figures in response to parliamentary questions from Tampines Group Representation Constituency Member of Parliament Baey Yam Keng on the reasons behind the government practice of providing subsidies for all A&E patients, regardless of their nationality.

In his reply, Mr Gan said those seeking A&E treatment in public hospitals pay a flat attendance fee but get a 50 per cent subsidy, regardless of their nationality.

The reason is to keep the administrative procedures simple given that A&E departments serve patients with critical, life-threatening medical conditions or require emergency attention, he added.