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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg |
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Needy patients to get more
subsidies with revised financing framework for chronic renal
dialysis |
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Today, MOH provides subsidies to patients
requiring chronic renal dialysis treatment at centres run by the charity
sector. |
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To enable needy patients to get appropriate
subsidies, MOH will from 1 April revise the current subsidy framework. |
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This translates into a 150-per cent
increase in MOH's subsidies or an absolute total of $4.2 million
in overall annual budget for renal dialysis. This also addresses
NKF's earlier request for funding for its patients. |
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Under the new framework, the same
subsidy quantum will be given for haemodialysis (HD) and
peritoneal dialysis (PD) , as both modalities have their medical
advantages and limitations. |
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This is to allow patients and their
attending doctors to choose the most appropriate therapy for the
patients based on medical and social considerations. |
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In addition, in alignment with the
existing MOH subsidy guidelines for step-down care, means-testing
will similarly be put in place so that more subsidies are given to
needy patients. |
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A higher subsidy of $300 will be given
to patients below per capita family income of $300 per month.
Approximately 550 more patients will stand to benefit from the
revised scheme. The new framework will apply to new patients who
seek dialysis treatment at the VWOs. |
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Table 1 outlines the revised financing
framework for chronic renal dialysis. |
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Table 1: Summary of
Revised Subsidy Framework
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Per Capita Family Income Level
(per month) |
Subsidy
(per month) |
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Below $300 |
$300 |
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$301-$700 |
$200 |
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Under the existing framework, certain
dialysis modality receive higher subsidy quantum and do not take
into account the per capita family income level. The subsidy
amount ranges between $200 and $600, depending on the dialysis
modality chosen by patient. |
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For financing long-term high cost
catastrophic illnesses such as renal failure, MOH encourages all
Singaporeans to subscribe to MediShield or other private insurance
to meet their share of the expenses. |
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Besides Government subsidies, the
charity renal dialysis providers e.g. National Kidney Foundation (NKF),
Kidney Dialysis Foundation and Khoo Foundation also give
supplementary financial assistance to help patients in financial
need. |
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
15 March 2007 |
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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg Press Release
15 Mar 2007 |
Needy patients to get more subsidies
for chronic renal dialysis
