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SINGAPORE: Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said hospital bills have increased but about 80 per cent of subsidised patients do not need to fork out any cash.
He said that between 2008 and 2009, the increase in the average bill sizes ranged from three per cent for Class B1 to 10 per cent for Class B2.
It's mainly due to the higher costs of hiring more people to improve the ratio between patient and staff.
However, patients did not feel a direct pinch on their pockets.
Mr Khaw said: “Patients would tap on various kinds of payment modes from Medisave, insurance, employers' medical benefits to outright cash. We know that 80 per cent of all subsidised patients would not need to fork out any cash after Medisave and MediShield deductions.”
Mr Khaw said this in Parliament, in response to questions from MP for Jurong GRC, Halimah Yacob.
She wanted to know the average bill incurred by patients in certain wards as well as the increase in bill sizes and the amount of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients. - CNA/vm
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