Percentage Breakdown of A Patient's Total Bill by Component

61 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health regarding private hospitals, excluding attending physician's fees (a) what is the typical percentage breakdown of a patient's total bill by component (eg ward, operating room and recovery room fees, and oxygen); and (b) whether the Ministry will (i) extend fee benchmarks to more procedures and itemisation and (ii) intervene to moderate charges and keep healthcare costs within reasonable limits.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Bills can vary significantly depending on the specific circumstances of patients and their treatments. Comparisons and benchmarking are more meaningful by specifying surgical procedures or medical conditions, and ward settings across hospitals.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has done so, by establishing close to 2,800 professional fee benchmarks for about 2,200 surgical procedures and medical conditions; and publishing annual bill information, broken down by bill components, such as surgeon fees and operating facility charges, so that patients can make informed choices about their healthcare providers.

We will study what more can be done to guide fee setting by private hospitals, by expanding fee benchmarks. MOH will also continue to explore measures to manage private healthcare costs through the Multilateral Healthcare Insurance Committee comprising representatives from MOH, private hospitals, insurers and medical professional associations.