Rumours that parents have to pay extra to bring right baby home are untrue: KKH

The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has debunked rumours circulating online that the hospital is charging parents an additional $15 to ensure they bring the right baby home. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has debunked rumours circulating online that the hospital is charging parents an additional $15 to ensure they bring the right baby home. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has debunked rumours circulating online that the hospital is charging parents an additional $15 to ensure they bring the right baby home.

These claims, posted on Singapore-based forums and websites, cited a Tuesday report by Lianhe Wanbao which suggested that KKH was charging patients for the use of the radio frequency identification (RFID) system that matches mother to child.

Ms Audrey Lau, director of the corporate development division of KKH, rejected these claims adding that "the information implied by these sites is factually incorrect". "KKH does not have an additional charge to patients for the use of this system. The Lianhe Wanbao report referred to by these sites clearly mentions that KKH does not charge patients," she said in a media statement. "We take a very serious view of this misinformation and will be raising this directly with the entities involved."

Under the RFID system, matching tags are attached to mother and child at delivery. These tags set off an alarm if the baby is given to another mother but emits a pleasant chime if the right pair of tags are together.

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