The recent debate over means testing has revealed a disappointing side to their character - a lack of compassion for people who are not on the poverty line, but who would have difficulty if current financial help was reduced or withdrawn.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has posed this question to more than 1,000 people so far: Who should continue to enjoy the full 80 per cent subsidy in C class wards and 65 per cent in a B2 ward at public hospitals?
He suggested half the population.Many in the audience thought he was too generous. Keep it to 20 per cent of the population, many said. One person even suggested no subsidy for the better-off. Another wanted means testing to be extended to outpatient clinics and polyclinics as well.
Why were they so quick to withdraw financial help that is currently given to anyone who wants it?
The minister has promised to be 'generous' and 'not mean' when he brings in means testing.
But it rather looks like Singaporeans are the ones who are being mean, in wanting to deprive more people from getting financial help with their medical bills.
Are they making such suggestions because they themselves are poor and want more of the government subsidy diverted to them?
Or are they getting medical care from their employers and don't see why others should benefit from the taxes they pay?
In either case, it shows a selfish attitude. They're either saying 'give me more' or 'don't give it to them'.
Health care is not like many other services, which can be given up with ease. People don't go to hospitals to get the subsidy. It is the opposite. They need the subsidy if they are unfortunate and land up in hospital.
Limiting financial help to only the bottom 20 per cent of the population would hit the middle income earners hard.
Given that the median salary in June last year was $2,170 a month, it would mean that many people who earn less than $2,000 a month - perhaps even as little as $1,500 a month - would have to pay more for their hospital bills.
And hospital bills can be large. On average, the government subsidises about $4,200 per C class patient.
To expect someone earning $2,000, and possibly supporting a family, to pay the equivalent of two months' salary for one hospital stay seems pretty hard-hearted.
As a society matures, it should learn to extend a helping hand to others.
Singapore is not a poor country. Its citizens pay enough taxes that the government is comfortable forking out $1.5 billion in direct medical subsidies. It plans to increase this to about $2.25 billion by 2012.
The money is there. Let more people benefit from subsidised health care.
Yes, by all means get the rich to pay more. But given the size of hospital bills, do be careful how 'rich' is defined. Is it someone earning a salary of $3,000, $5,000 or $10,000 a month?
Remember that whatever is decided now, by the people of Singapore, could one day affect the very people who have asked the government to be more stringent.
Should society show them compassion then? Or should they be made to sell their homes and downgrade to a rented room if they fall ill and chalk up hefty bills?
Fortunately for them, the Health Minister is more generous, suggesting the current subsidy be retained for half the population, while allowing all to enjoy some financial aid should they choose a subsidised class.
At one dialogue session, a man earning $8,000 a month insisted he was a middle-income earner.
The minister told him in no uncertain terms that, with such a salary, he definitely fits into the 'rich' category.
The man argued that he is supporting a family and two sets of parents. This leaves him with little discretionary income.
So, even the 'rich' can find hospital bills a burden. Fortunately, Mr Khaw is not listening to calls to deprive the rich of all subsidy. So this man will continue to enjoy some subsidy - 65 per cent in C class and 50 per cent in B2 class.
I can't help but wonder if the minister would have been even more generous if the people of Singapore had urged him to be, instead of telling him to be more tight-fisted.
Singapore is not a poor country...The money is there. Let more people benefit from subsidised health care. Yes, by all means get the rich to pay more. But given the size of hospital bills, do be careful how 'rich' is defined.
