Having a centralised database that comprises medical records of patients from both private and public hospitals could help keep annual health insurance premiums affordable and bring about better healthcare ("Join national health record system, private hospitals urged"; March 17).

A patient treated earlier in a public hospital would have undergone some medical tests. If he is required to seek further treatment in a private hospital, the records of the earlier medical tests should be retrievable from a centralised database.

This will certainly save cost for the patient and, hence, keep the health insurance premiums affordable.

Doctors in the second hospital also need not waste time or resources repeating similar medical tests.

The time saved can be better spent on performing other essential medical assessments to better diagnose the illness, hence enhancing the healthcare for the patient.

Lim Lih Mei (Ms)