Payment for A&E Services in Public Hospitals

44 Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for Health (a) whether payment for accident and emergency (A&E) services in the public hospitals is needed to be made in full in cash upfront or after medical treatment has been rendered; and (b) whether low-income or needy patients seeking A&E services are eligible for subsidised fees.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: All patients who visit the A&E department in a public hospital are charged at a single flat subsidised rate for basic investigations and services, regardless of income.

The payment process of A&E departments varies across public hospitals depending on their operational considerations. In emergency cases, such as when patients arrive via ambulance, they are always attended to first and payment is collected after treatment. In some non-emergency cases, the flat fee may be collected upfront, whereas in other cases it would be collected after the service is rendered.

No one will be denied essential healthcare services, including A&E, due to the inability to pay. Patients who face difficulties in paying for their A&E fees can approach the medical social workers to seek financial assistance.