Reasons Public Healthcare Institution Patients Fail to Attend Follow-up Appointments or Collect Prescribed Medication, and Actions Taken to Help Them

84 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry tracks the reasons why patients fail to attend follow-up appointments or collect routinely prescribed medication at public healthcare institutions; and (b) whether these institutions proactively identify and assess the reasons for missed appointments and where financial barriers are identified, connect the patients to available financial assistance before they disengage from care.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health does not track the reasons why patients fail to attend follow-up appointments or collect routinely prescribed medication at the public healthcare institutions (PHIs).

Based on feedback from PHIs, reasons cited for missing follow-up appointments are improvements in their medical condition, and work or other commitments. Common reasons cited for not collecting medications include having a balance of the prescribed medication from prior collections and obtaining medications from another provider.

PHIs make reasonable efforts to contact patients who miss follow-up appointments or medication collection, to facilitate rescheduling and minimise impact on patient care. Medication delivery services are also offered, where clinically appropriate.

Patients who express financial concerns will be referred to a medical social worker for assistance.