SINGAPORE - Brunei's Health Ministry (MOHB) "is not seeking any discount" for the services rendered by Singapore doctors to the Brunei Sultan's sister-in-law before her death in 2007.

A statement issued by its lawyers, WongPartnership, on November 7 said the ministry wants "only to be charged a fair and proper amount for the services actually rendered."

The original bill of $24.8 million from surgeon Susan Lim for her treatment and other services provided over 110 days to Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit resulted in a disciplinary hearing against Dr Lim by the Singapore Medical Council.

She was found guilty and fined $10,000, suspended for three years, and has to bear the cost of the proceedings, including High Court hearings.

The press release from the lawyers was in reaction to a story in The Sunday Times which said Dr Lim has not yet been paid for those services, including fees of third party doctors.

It said: "Our client, the MOHB, wishes to make clear that the MOHB has no issue with paying fair and proper charges for medical services."

What it has issue with is that it "considers Dr Lim's bills to be extremely high and without proper basis."