Record $39.1m in Medifund given out
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A RECORD sum was given to help needy people pay their medical bills in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices last year.
Medifund, the Government's fund to help the poor who cannot afford medical treatment, disbursed $39.1 million last year, the largest sum it has handed out since it was set up in 1993.
This amount marks a 20.9 per cent rise from the $32.3 million given in 2004.
The number of successful applications for Medifund money also hit a record high last year. It increased by 15.7 per cent, from 248,957 in 2004 to 288,099 last year.
Just 210 applications, or less than 0.1 per cent, were turned down last year, mostly because the patients were deemed capable of paying their bills. This rejection rate is similar to that in the previous two years.
As in previous years, the bulk of the funds - about 26 per cent last year - went to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), which treats mentally ill patients. It gave out $10.2 million last year, up from $8.5 million the year before.
The hospital has many long-stay patients, some of whom have no family. Last year, IMH had about 1,800 such patients, some of whom have stayed for more than 20 years.
An IMH spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday it disbursed 83 per cent of its Medifund money last year to inpatients. Of this amount, about half went to long-stay patients.
IMH also said there was an increase in both the number of inpatients as well as Medifund applications last year.
But this did not necessarily mean there were more needy patients because some could have been admitted more than once in a year, and applied for Medifund each time, its spokesman said.
All other large hospitals, except Tan Tock Seng and the Singapore National Eye Centre, also dished out more funds over 2004.
Tan Tock Seng granted $5.02 million last year, about $70,000 less than the year before. The eye centre gave about $364,000, down by $107,000.
Community hospitals, nursing homes and hospices distributed $2.3 million last year, slightly more than the $2.1 million in 2004.
Asked about the reasons for the increase in applications and grant amounts last year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday: 'The growth rate fluctuates from year to year. Hence, there is no evident pattern for last year's increase.'
However, the head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, Madam Halimah Yacob, felt the increase in applicants 'reflects more people having difficulties coping with illnesses and medical bills'.
This was probably a result of more people ageing and developing chronic illnesses, as well as a rise in health-care costs over the years, she said.
She hopes the use of Medifund can be made more flexible so people who earn more than the income ceiling can still tap it if need be. She cited an example of a middle-income couple with a child suffering from leukaemia, who recently sought her help. They do not qualify for Medifund, but are in debt.
MOH said it will grow the size of the fund and grants progressively so more cases can be helped. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has promised to apply for top-ups to Medifund every year.
After last year's payout, there is still $1.17 billion left. But only interest generated by the fund can be used.
(Straits Times 1 Dec) -
So you are saying a 20k medical bill actually cost 30k?
wow...thanks a lot.
why dun u quote something that is not written from146th Shitty Times? -
did he say what was the record collection from the Medifund?
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Another one more mindless trumpeting and gloating of some useless propaganda.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:A RECORD sum was given to help needy people pay their medical bills in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices last year.
Medifund, the Government's fund to help the poor who cannot afford medical treatment, disbursed $39.1 million last year, the largest sum it has handed out since it was set up in 1993.
This amount marks a 20.9 per cent rise from the $32.3 million given in 2004.
The number of successful applications for Medifund money also hit a record high last year. It increased by 15.7 per cent, from 248,957 in 2004 to 288,099 last year.
Just 210 applications, or less than 0.1 per cent, were turned down last year, mostly because the patients were deemed capable of paying their bills. This rejection rate is similar to that in the previous two years.
As in previous years, the bulk of the funds - about 26 per cent last year - went to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), which treats mentally ill patients. It gave out $10.2 million last year, up from $8.5 million the year before.
The hospital has many long-stay patients, some of whom have no family. Last year, IMH had about 1,800 such patients, some of whom have stayed for more than 20 years.
An IMH spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday it disbursed 83 per cent of its Medifund money last year to inpatients. Of this amount, about half went to long-stay patients.
IMH also said there was an increase in both the number of inpatients as well as Medifund applications last year.
But this did not necessarily mean there were more needy patients because some could have been admitted more than once in a year, and applied for Medifund each time, its spokesman said.
All other large hospitals, except Tan Tock Seng and the Singapore National Eye Centre, also dished out more funds over 2004.
Tan Tock Seng granted $5.02 million last year, about $70,000 less than the year before. The eye centre gave about $364,000, down by $107,000.
Community hospitals, nursing homes and hospices distributed $2.3 million last year, slightly more than the $2.1 million in 2004.
Asked about the reasons for the increase in applications and grant amounts last year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday: 'The growth rate fluctuates from year to year. Hence, there is no evident pattern for last year's increase.'
However, the head of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, Madam Halimah Yacob, felt the increase in applicants 'reflects more people having difficulties coping with illnesses and medical bills'.
This was probably a result of more people ageing and developing chronic illnesses, as well as a rise in health-care costs over the years, she said.
She hopes the use of Medifund can be made more flexible so people who earn more than the income ceiling can still tap it if need be. She cited an example of a middle-income couple with a child suffering from leukaemia, who recently sought her help. They do not qualify for Medifund, but are in debt.
MOH said it will grow the size of the fund and grants progressively so more cases can be helped. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has promised to apply for top-ups to Medifund every year.
After last year's payout, there is still $1.17 billion left. But only interest generated by the fund can be used.
(Straits Times 1 Dec)
Is this not another propaganda announcement to distract Singaporeans from the shameful loss of S$3.1 Billion paid for Shin Corp ?
Record sum of S$39.1Million handed out ?
Why is the amount not delcared for the CASH portion that has been paid by the sick or their relations - for the artificially inflated prices charged by these hospitals owned by the State - despite the large amount of public funds that have been spent to build and equip these hospitals ?
S$39.1 Million out of S$1.17 Billion left - represent only a paltry percentage of 3.34 per cent.
This should account for the PEANUTS status - by the standards of the members of this Government, when compared to the S$3 Billion that was paid to the Thaksin private bank account, in exchange for the peanut shell of a useless Shin Corp that is boycotted by all Thai Nationals.
At 5 per cent interest on S$1.0 Billion, there will already have been a interest sum of S$50,000,000 earned; leaving a healthy surplus despite the handout of S$39.1 Million.
Where will the surplus funds go ? Temasek or GIC ?
With Singapore pushed to be a Financial Hub in the global circuit, this government will probably have linked part of Singapore's cash reserves into the international banking system, with fund managers making our reserves work every minute of the 24 hour day-every day - overnight banking rates will be helping the various government accounts to grow even faster
Singapore can afford to have a lower health cost with all the record surplus generated by GIC and Temasek being ploughed back into a National Insurance Scheme that will be drawn only by those who call in sick.
With a population of 4.5 million - of which only 3.5 Million are Singaporean Citizens - a sum of S$3 Billion would have bought a healthy national insurance scheme that will be comprehensive enough to cover all major and minor illnesses of all Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents - WITHOUT Taxing our tight Cash Reserves. -
Originally posted by Atobe:
Bravo, bravo...
Another one more [b]mindless trumpeting and gloating of some useless propaganda.
Is this not another propaganda announcement to distract Singaporeans from the shameful loss of S$3.1 Billion paid for Shin Corp ?
Record sum of S$39.1Million handed out ?
Why is the amount not delcared for the CASH portion that has been paid by the sick or their relations - for the artificially inflated prices charged by these hospitals owned by the State - despite the large amount of public funds that have been spent to build and equip these hospitals ?
S$39.1 Million out of S$1.17 Billion left - represent only a paltry percentage of 3.34 per cent.
This should account for the PEANUTS status - by the standards of the members of this Government, when compared to the S$3 Billion that was paid to the Thaksin private bank account, in exchange for the peanut shell of a useless Shin Corp that is boycotted by all Thai Nationals.
At 5 per cent interest on S$1.0 Billion, there will already have been a interest sum of S$50,000,000 earned; leaving a healthy surplus despite the handout of S$39.1 Million. Where will the surplus funds go ?
Temasek or GIC ?
With Singapore pushed to be a Financial Hub in the global circuit, this government will probably have linked part of Singapore's cash reserves into the international banking system, with fund managers making our reserves work every minute of the 24 hour day-every day - overnight banking rates will be helping the various government accounts to grow even faster
Singapore can afford to have a lower health cost with all the record surplus generated by GIC and Temasek being ploughed back into a National Insurance Scheme that will be drawn only by those who call in sick.
With a population of 4.5 million - of which only 3.5 Million are Singaporean Citizens - a sum of S$3 Billion would have bought a healthy national insurance scheme that will be comprehensive enough to cover all major and minor illnesses of all Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents.
[/b]
someone or some mushroom just got owned. lol! -
Didn't the price of medicines and medical bills just been raised recently?
expect something else to have a price increase to collect more to "help" the poor... -
39.1 millions ????�H
50% of S$39.1 millions = Land costs
20% of S$39.1 millions = Administration costs
20% of S$39.1 millions = Salaries
10% of S$39.1 millions = miscellaneous cost.
Our sg govt likes to talk c o c k........................ -
Wah.. meaning medical cost is getting out of hand! 20.9% more ppl cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment without fund's 'help'!Originally posted by oxford mushroom:A RECORD sum was given to help needy people pay their medical bills in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices last year.
Medifund, the Government's fund to help the poor who cannot afford medical treatment, disbursed $39.1 million last year, the largest sum it has handed out since it was set up in 1993.
This amount marks a 20.9 per cent rise from the $32.3 million given in 2004.
(Straits Times 1 Dec) -
Supporters of the Opposition are really good at blowing hot air about helping the poor but it is the government who gives out support to the needy. When the government wants to raise GST to fund more subsidies to the poor, it is again these people who object. But what have they done for the poor? What viable alternatives do these people have other than their mindless ranting?
With so much hot air, no wonder the earth is heating up -
yes..and supporters of the ruling party are so full of propagandas and selective statements and comparisons to back their logics...that it actually defies logics..Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Supporters of the Opposition are really good at blowing hot air about helping the poor but it is the government who gives out support to the needy. When the government wants to raise GST to fund more subsidies to the poor, it is again these people who object. But what have they done for the poor? What viable alternatives do these people have other than their mindless ranting?
With so much hot air, no wonder the earth is heating up
no wonder its shifting its focus now to R&D... need to research and find out more ways to construct 'logic defying reasons' to back their logic defying statements.. -
What does that means?
It just means that 39.1million of Singaporean's money went back to Singaporean's pocket, covering their medical cost. That's all.
What does it said about a good healthcare system?
NOTHING.
An average Singaporean paid a certain amount of $$ for the Medisave and Medishield, then they recieved back what they paid for the system. Did they get any profits? No.
So, can someone tell me, what's wrong with a person getting back what others owe them? -
Remember:
DON'T OWE THEM THE VOTES!!! -
Get your facts right. Govt does not equal to PAP. Govt is made up of opposition parties as well.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Supporters of the Opposition are really good at blowing hot air about helping the poor but it is the government who gives out support to the needy. When the government wants to raise GST to fund more subsidies to the poor, it is again these people who object. But what have they done for the poor? What viable alternatives do these people have other than their mindless ranting?
With so much hot air, no wonder the earth is heating up -
yeah...yeah...Originally posted by Skibi:Get your facts right. Govt does not equal to PAP. Govt is made up of opposition parties as well. -
Sure the gov has opposition parties - but they are all gagged with the threat and fear of law suits.Originally posted by Skibi:Get your facts right. Govt does not equal to PAP. Govt is made up of opposition parties as well.
Just for show...
Ak; wayang wayang... -
wow. what are they doing with our $1.17 billion?
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What i meant is that it is the govt giving out money to the needy. The money does not come out from the PAP's pocket.Originally posted by ShutterBug:Sure the gov has opposition parties - but they are all gagged with the threat and fear of law suits.
Just for show...
Ak; wayang wayang... -
Originally posted by oxford mushroom:
Another 'no-brainer' reply that avoid addressing issues raised.
Supporters of the Opposition are really good at blowing hot air about helping the poor but it is the government who gives out support to the needy. When the government wants to raise GST to fund more subsidies to the poor, it is again these people who object. But what have they done for the poor? What viable alternatives do these people have other than their mindless ranting?
With so much hot air, no wonder the earth is heating up
Is the government supporting the needy, or is the help coming from Singaporeans from the collection of an extra 2% GST ?
Will the entire amount of the extra 2% GST collected go to the needy ?
Can we trust this Government when they have allocated S$1.7 Billion to help those in need of medical aid, but ONLY the INTEREST AMOUNT is to be utilised ?
Even with the declared amount of S$39 Million being handed - (from the generated interest on S$1.7 Billion ) , it has been returned to the accounts of the state run hospitals - and Singaporeans will see it in their POSITIVE Profit and Loss Annual Reports.
Did any of this S$39 Million stay put in the Private Accounts of Singaporeans ?
What handout is there ?
If the S$39 Million handout represent the supposed 70% on the Bills of state operated hospitals, what about the remaining 30% CASH PORTION that has been paid by Singaporeans ?
This S$39 Million is no handout when it has gone one full cycle back to Government Treasury.
This is another propaganda that is published to hide the real facts, and at an opportune time when the S$3 BILLION LOSS in Shin Corp is heating up the Singaporean sub-soil.
Simply amazing that a PhD will not think beyond the printed words. -
LHL said...Riasing GST from 5% to 7% is to help the poors.......So...I wonder the next raise of GST after 7%GST...Can you guys guess what LHL will say the next hike of GST that will be used for what sort of things ?
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39 million...wow, that's plenty of payout considering the salaries of the political holders totaled only 25 million...we should be so grateful....