Forum: Collaboration key for fairer system of dental subsidies, fee benchmarks
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We refer to the article “ Chas dental clinics to display fee benchmarks, provide higher subsidies from Oct 1
The Singapore Dental Association (SDA) welcomes the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) enhancement of the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) subsidies, especially for preventive dental care.
We recognise the introduction of fee benchmarks for dental procedures at Chas clinics as an important step towards greater transparency. For patients, the publication of benchmarks provides clearer expectations of costs. For the profession, it provides an opportunity to work in partnership with MOH to ensure that benchmarks remain representative and relevant.
To achieve this, SDA proposes a collaborative approach:
Regular review of data: Benchmarks should be updated regularly to reflect the realities of the dental landscape, including inflationary pressures, high rentals, and rising staff costs. We also encourage the use of data from a wider base of clinics to capture the diversity of practice models and cost structures in Singapore.
Linking fees to value: Price alone does not convey the quality or comprehensiveness of care. A shorter, less thorough procedure may cost less but not provide the same long-term benefit as a more comprehensive session. Complementing fee benchmarks with quality indicators would allow patients to make informed decisions that weigh both price and value.
Supportive implementation: Benchmarks should not be viewed as rigid limits, but as reference points within a supportive process. Clinics that charge above the initial figures should be able to explain their fee structures, with audits and sanctions applied only where necessary as safeguards.
It is also important to recognise that many clinics have maintained consistent fee structures for years. With the enhanced subsidies, patients are in fact paying less out-of-pocket, even if some clinic fees sit above benchmark figures.
SDA remains committed to supporting policies that safeguard patients, ensure accountability, and sustain the viability of dental practices.
By working together with MOH to refine and update fee benchmarks, we can ensure that the enhanced Chas scheme fulfils its promise: a transparent, fair and sustainable system that benefits both patients and providers, and ultimately raises the standard of oral health for all Singaporeans.
Eugene Tang (Dr)
President
Singapore Dental Association
