A text published last month on the Straits Times Forum site first addressed the issue of voluntary charging for people who choose to move to higher-class wards.
Mr. David Kong wrote in the text how his 98-year-old mother was initially admitted to the Singapore General Hospital’s (SGH) high-dependency ward as a Category C patient.
But the hospital, which accommodates five patients, was” constantly chaotic” and his mom found it difficult to sleep, he wrote.
A week later, Mr. Kong’s mummy was transferred to a standard ward, and the family chose to live in an A1 hospital, which would allow for a “quieter environment.” The family was informed, nevertheless, that changing this would retroactively affect the hospital’s reimbursement for their mother’s “earlier remain as a Class C physician” in light of her fresh Class A1 standing.  ,
The A1 hospital is a secret and no- subsidised hospital type, based on SGH’s website.
According to Mr. Kong,” A person may be charged Class C prices for the interval she stayed in a Category C ward, no Class A1 rates for services and amenities she did not consume.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health ( MOH) stated that it is crucial to ensure that government subsidies are “focused where they are needed most” when CNA spoke with the ministry about the issue last month.  ,
Our public institutions will provide the necessary services subsidised at the patient’s chosen hospital group, according to the contacted comment.
Before upgrading their ward class, patients are also informed about the economic implications, so they can decide whether to proceed with the hospital change, the statement continued.
Mr. Ang, the MP, inquired about whether patients who require an upgrade but are” not materially very powerful” could file an appeal against the retrospective charges in his auxiliary questions on Tuesday.
Mr. Ang even brought up the situation of patients who were recently admitted to a higher-class hospital but were not permitted to downgrade to a lower-class ward.
” The only time they can escape this is when they are admitted to A&, E then they can go to a lower- class ( ward )”, he said, citing feedback from his residents.
Mr. Ong responded that “everyone has the right to appeal,” but that the authorities are” trying to stop a particular behavior that ( they ) do n’t believe is appropriate.”
He added that patients are given financial advice at the start of each hospital stay and that they are guided to make decisions” with their eye empty.”
In cases where devaluations are never allowed, Mr Ong noted that” a quite established method of means testing” is in place now.
” So long as they meet the implies testing conditions, they can downgrade”, he said. Therefore, I believe that the members who have encountered the certain situations may have failed to meet the means testing standards.
Mr. Ong added that those with value issues can use the government’s “last line of defense,” or MediFund, to ensure that those who need assistance is “always afford hospital stays in public health institutions.”