This is my response to a Straits Times article by its Health Correspondent , Salma Khalik. In her article Salma took issue with a number of persons who apparently proposed harsher criteria at a forum discussion with the Health Minister concerning the Means Testing Scheme for according healthcare subsidies to Singapore citizens
I congratulate you on the article captioned above. In an article I submitted, published in the Weekender last week, I proposed that Singaporeans should be engaged in dialogue to develop a shared vision about subsidized healthcare in Singapore. It is encouraging to see that Minister Khaw has held a forum attended more than 1000 people.
There will always be different views on the amount of subsidies governments should afford, or who should get more or less and how? The press should facilitate and stimulate this discussion and not try to limit it Health care cost is inescapable national burden…. whether we bear it as individuals as it is incurred, share through some systems of tax, subsidies corporate benefits, insurance schemes; or pass it on to future generations.
The question of what is the basic level of care is always paramount…. then how citizens can obtain and afford higher standard of care that they prefer. Subsidies can only be provided for basic levels of care. Means testing is a way to ensure that it is given to those who need it most.
Politicians in order to gain public support and votes will want to extend this to everyone. As citizens we have to ensure that in their attempt to please, they do not unwisely strain resources which are always limited, ultimately increase taxes like GST which accelerates the poverty gap, or push the problem excessively to future generations.
It is not possible to create mean testing that will not unfairly affect certain individuals like the $8,000 salary earner with huge family responsibilities. Every social system must be built on the concept of compassion …a compassion which IMPORTANTLY must not be easily taken advantage of, or cost too much to administer.
Beyond the criteria and the rules, these are the tests that the system of Means testing must pass when it is implemented.
