ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE

(FIRST SESSION)

WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY 3PM

MONDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2008

MEANS TESTING (Subsidy for Cost of Medicine)

Mr Baey Yam Keng:

To ask the Minister for Health whether the graduated subsidy levels under the means testing framework apply to the cost of medicine and how does the differential pricing of standard and non-standard drugs work under the framework.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan:

From next year, all subsidized healthcare services used by Class B2 and C patients during their hospital stay will have the bills adjusted by the appropriate subsidy levels. This would include standard drugs.

Non-standard drugs will continue to be charged at cost to patients, as is the practice today.