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SDP's healthcare plan makes it into SMA news
Added on: Monday, 7 October 2013
by the Singapore Democrats
http://yoursdp.org/news/sdp_s_healthcare_plan_makes_it_into_sma_news/2013-10-07-5721
In another sign that the SDP's National Healthcare Plan is taken seriously by establishment circles, the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) News has published an article co-authored by Professor Paul Tambyah and Dr Tan Lip Hong in its September issue.
Titled Towards Universal Health Coverage, http://www.sma.org.sg/UploadedImg/files/Publications - SMA News/4509/Insight 5.pdf, Prof Tambyah and Dr Tan quoted World Health Organization's (WHO) Director-General Dr Margaret Chan comment on high healthcare expenses: Direct out-of-pocket payments at the time of care are identified as the single biggest barrier to universal coverage. While user fees have been promoted as a way to reduce the overuse of services, this is not what happens. User fees punish the poor. They are inefficient. They encourage people to delay seeking care until a condition is far advanced, and far more difficult and expensive to treat. And when people do pay out of pocket for care, financial ruin can be the result.
The authors who are members of the SDP's Healthcare Advisory Panel point out that Singapore's healthcare expenditure is funded in large part by out-of-pocket payments made by the people. As a result, many Singaporeans risk financial difficulties when they meet catastrophic illnesses.
They point out that, "Everyone should have access to essential preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services” because healthcare "is a basic human right.”
Prof Tambyah and Dr Tan are also concerned that the recent proposal by the Government to introduce MediShield Life may keep "the burden on individuals and companies unsustainably high.”
Instead, they write, the alternative proposals included in the SDP's healthcare plan covers all outpatient chronic disease care as well as inpatient hospitalisation with a capped maximum co-payment. The government shoulders the major portion of the nation's health expenditure.
"Singaporeans deserve true comprehensive universal health coverage. We can make it happen,” the authors conclude.
Read also Universal healthcare consistent with political freedom, http://yoursdp.org/publ/perspective..._consistent_with_political_freedom/2-1-0-1369
In a mature society, the debate over competing healthcare plans between the ruling and opposition parties would be intense with the people kept informed about the pros and cons of the proposals. Equipped with such knowledge, the electorate goes to the polls during elections to choose between the competing parties and their ideas.
Unfortunately, Singaporeans are still largely uninformed about the SDP's alternative proposal because the mass media have given limited coverage and discussion space to it.
The PAP has often criticised the opposition for merely attacking its policies but not offered any solutions. However, when the SDP comes up with alternative policy proposals, such as our healthcare plan, the state media pay little attention to it.
Read also Crucial differences between Govt's and SDP's healthcare plans, http://yoursdp.org/publ/perspective...39_s_and_sdp_39_s_healthcare_plans/2-1-0-1363
The SDP has also drawn up comprehensive and detailed plans to address the problems in our housing system, foreign workers policy and ministerial pay. We have also written a paper to deal with the concerns of our Malay community.
We will continue to be a constructive party as we believe that competition and the contest of ideas are ultimately good for Singaporeans.
Added on: Monday, 7 October 2013
by the Singapore Democrats
http://yoursdp.org/news/sdp_s_healthcare_plan_makes_it_into_sma_news/2013-10-07-5721
In another sign that the SDP's National Healthcare Plan is taken seriously by establishment circles, the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) News has published an article co-authored by Professor Paul Tambyah and Dr Tan Lip Hong in its September issue.
Titled Towards Universal Health Coverage, http://www.sma.org.sg/UploadedImg/files/Publications - SMA News/4509/Insight 5.pdf, Prof Tambyah and Dr Tan quoted World Health Organization's (WHO) Director-General Dr Margaret Chan comment on high healthcare expenses: Direct out-of-pocket payments at the time of care are identified as the single biggest barrier to universal coverage. While user fees have been promoted as a way to reduce the overuse of services, this is not what happens. User fees punish the poor. They are inefficient. They encourage people to delay seeking care until a condition is far advanced, and far more difficult and expensive to treat. And when people do pay out of pocket for care, financial ruin can be the result.
The authors who are members of the SDP's Healthcare Advisory Panel point out that Singapore's healthcare expenditure is funded in large part by out-of-pocket payments made by the people. As a result, many Singaporeans risk financial difficulties when they meet catastrophic illnesses.
They point out that, "Everyone should have access to essential preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services” because healthcare "is a basic human right.”
Prof Tambyah and Dr Tan are also concerned that the recent proposal by the Government to introduce MediShield Life may keep "the burden on individuals and companies unsustainably high.”
Instead, they write, the alternative proposals included in the SDP's healthcare plan covers all outpatient chronic disease care as well as inpatient hospitalisation with a capped maximum co-payment. The government shoulders the major portion of the nation's health expenditure.
"Singaporeans deserve true comprehensive universal health coverage. We can make it happen,” the authors conclude.
Read also Universal healthcare consistent with political freedom, http://yoursdp.org/publ/perspective..._consistent_with_political_freedom/2-1-0-1369
In a mature society, the debate over competing healthcare plans between the ruling and opposition parties would be intense with the people kept informed about the pros and cons of the proposals. Equipped with such knowledge, the electorate goes to the polls during elections to choose between the competing parties and their ideas.
Unfortunately, Singaporeans are still largely uninformed about the SDP's alternative proposal because the mass media have given limited coverage and discussion space to it.
The PAP has often criticised the opposition for merely attacking its policies but not offered any solutions. However, when the SDP comes up with alternative policy proposals, such as our healthcare plan, the state media pay little attention to it.
Read also Crucial differences between Govt's and SDP's healthcare plans, http://yoursdp.org/publ/perspective...39_s_and_sdp_39_s_healthcare_plans/2-1-0-1363
The SDP has also drawn up comprehensive and detailed plans to address the problems in our housing system, foreign workers policy and ministerial pay. We have also written a paper to deal with the concerns of our Malay community.
We will continue to be a constructive party as we believe that competition and the contest of ideas are ultimately good for Singaporeans.
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