Transparency Works!
In reference to article on ST, 20th Sep 2006: Changi General Hospital Fees Dip
The Workers’ Party is glad to see that healthcare costs are being lowered due to a variety of factors as reported in the Straits Times.
Firstly, generic drugs are being utilised. This dramatically lowers the cost of medication and should not only continue but grow to encompass as many classes of drugs as possible. Primary healthcare providing facilities should continue to expand their range of generic drugs particularly for chronic conditions.
Secondly, medical processes are being re-engineered with a net result of lower cost to Singaporeans and ultimately to taxpayers. Nonetheless care needs to be taken to ensure that quality remains reasonable due to the mentioned process changes in the form and method of administration of medicine.
Lastly, medical cost have apparently gone down due not in the least to a system of transparency wherein the Ministry of Health made a decision to publicly publish a list of charges for different hospitals and different medical conditions treated. The Workers’ Party believes this level of transparency is instrumental to forcing the first two points above, the use of generic drugs and the re-engineering of some medical processes, so that cost can be kept competitive even though Singapore is a ‘captive’ market.
As demonstrated on the issue of medical costs, transparency works. We encourage the Government to make as many services and their fees as transparent as possible for the benefit of the consumers and to fire up the creativity and imagination of Singaporeans particularly on cost cutting procedures.
Perry Tong
President WP Youth Wing
22 Sept 2006
