What a blatant lie from Gerald Giam of Workers' Party.
Now that he is no longer an NCMP, perhaps he feels the freedom to put his spin on what Minister Gan Kim Yong said in parliament in reply to the cost of medications.
There is no profit margin. There is only a margin to offset overheads and operation.
It is also very clear that this is a margin that hardly offsets any cost because the government spent $4.3 BILLION in just one year to fund operations and to keep the cost of healthcare low. Not a paltry sum.
More importantly - and this is the part Gerald Giam does not tell you - ALL Singaporeans receive subsidy in medication in the public sector.
Specifically, Singaporeans holding Chas card receive 75% subsidy, pioneer generation gets another 50% off this subsidised bill. All other Singaporeans receive 50% subsidy in medication.
Then there is the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) to help eligible patients pay for expensive drugs that are not in the Standard Drug List but have been assessed to be clinically necessary, and covers conditions such as cancer and heart failure.
Does Gerald Giam not know of the subsidy for medication as well as the Medication Assistance Fund?
Specifically, Singaporeans holding Chas card receive 75% subsidy, pioneer generation gets another 50% off this subsidised bill. All other Singaporeans receive 50% subsidy in medication.
Then there is the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) to help eligible patients pay for expensive drugs that are not in the Standard Drug List but have been assessed to be clinically necessary, and covers conditions such as cancer and heart failure.
Does Gerald Giam not know of the subsidy for medication as well as the Medication Assistance Fund?
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