This is especially urgent in cancer treatment, which often means a great deal of money must be spent, but these medical costs are not recognised as claimable for tax relief.

Even hiring a maid allows the employer to claim maid levy tax relief, which the employer 'enjoys' for the 'luxury' of offloading hard work to the maid. Compare this to the suffering cancer patient who is fighting for his life.

My father has cancer. He has gone through one round of chemotherapy and is now on his second round. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on his treatment, even with HealthShield and Medisave, and he may have to go for further rounds of chemotherapy.

This is all hard-earned money and I am sure there are many others who have spent even more on themselves or a loved one.

Therefore, I urge the Government to 'have a heart' and allow money spent on medical expenses to be tax-relievable. This will give individuals more disposable income to further support themselves or a loved one in medical treatment.

Ng Cher Hwa