Govt will ensure MediShield Life premiums affordable: Gan

Govt will ensure MediShield Life premiums affordable: Gan

By Eileen Poh
POSTED: 25 Feb 2014 19:08

SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has said the government will ensure that MediShield Life premiums will be affordable for Singaporeans.

And lower-income families may receive more help to pay for the premiums.

Mr Gan was speaking to reporters after the recording of the Budget Forum in Mandarin organised by MediaCorp.

$8 billion has been set aside for the Pioneer Generation Fund. It will help 450,000 pioneers cope with healthcare costs for the rest of their lives.

The package will benefit not only the elderly.

Mr Gan said: "This Pioneer Generation Package is one effort to lighten load on the younger generation because today, many of the elderly are supported by their younger children. And so by helping the elderly, we are reducing the burden on the younger generation."

He added that the government is aware that making more funding available may drive up demand and eventually prices for healthcare services.

So to better manage healthcare costs, the ministry is adopting a few strategies, such as proper gatekeeping to ensure that access to high-end acute care is on a need basis.

Mr Gan said: "For example, if you don't need to be in the acute hospital, then you ought not to be in the hospital; you may be looked after in a community hospital, the nursing homes or even at home.

"We will also be enhancing community support, primary care, from our polyclinics through CHAS enhancement and through our community services support, by building more senior care centres, for example."

Mr Gan said details on more support for such care in the community, including step-down care and home care services, will be announced during the parliamentary debate on his ministry's budget next month.

Apart from Mr Gan, the Budget Forum included representatives from social services, business associations and grassroots organisations.

The Budget Forum in Mandarin will be aired on Channel 8 on Thursday at 10.30pm.


- CNA/ir

- wong chee tat :)