I went to a government polyclinic recently for a simple consultation, where the doctor reviewed my medical history and lifestyle, and told me that my last blood test was normal and no drug or follow-up was needed.

The consultation lasted no more than five minutes.

I paid $11.90 for the consultation. The receipt showed that the GST subsidy was 83 cents and government subsidy was $32.

Hence, the actual cost of the consultation was $44.73.

Recently, I went to a private general practitioner's clinic for treatment of shingles.

The consultation fee was $27 - presumably cost plus profit.

Why is the cost of a simple consultation at the polyclinic so much higher than that at a private clinic?

Choy Kah Wai