SINGAPORE - Singapore public hospitals were
owed $110 million in outstanding patient debts as of end-2011, said Minister of
Health Mr Gan Kim Yong.
This is up from the total arrears owed by
patients that exceeded two months on a cumulative basis of $75 million as of
end-2008, and include arrears brought forward from prior years.
For 2011 bills alone, there were 136,000 bills
outstanding for two months or more, translating to $48 million in total
arrears. More than 80 per cent of these outstanding bills were incurred by
Singaporean patients, he added.
Mr Gan was replying In a written answer to a
question from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NMP) Ms Lina Chiam.
These figures also include patients who are
paying their outstanding bills by instalments or awaiting assessment for
financial assistance by the hospitals.
Mr Gan said that while more than 96 per cent
of patients settle their bills within two months and a significant portion of
the debts are eventually recovered or paid up over time, there is still a
significant amount of bad debt written off each year.
The total amount written off in FY2008, FY2009
and FY2010 was $27 million, $26 million and $37 million respectively.
As for what means hospitals take to recover
the debt, Mr Gan said reminders will generally be sent through phone or mail if
they do not settle their bills within a month.
There will be subsequent reminders in the
following months, but if there is still no response, some hospitals may refer
the case to an authorised debt collection agency to collect the arrears on
their behalf, he added.
However, if a patient expresses problems
paying his or her hospital bill, the hospital will assess the case and explore
options for financial assistance, such as instalment payments or Medifund
assistance.
AsiaOne
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