SINGAPORE - It has taken a long time, but starting Feb 1, needy Singaporeans who require HIV treatments can turn to Medifund for assistance.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), "this decision is in response to feedback ... that some of these patients would require additional financial assistance to cover their treatment".

Patients will be subject to means-testing, said MOH. It will inject $8.5 million into Medifund, to be used for all needy Singaporean patients.

"The (Medifund) Committee will need to balance between the needs of the HIV and non-HIV patients," said the ministry.

The amount of help depends on a patient's financial and social circumstances and the bill size incurred, but Medifund may assist with up to 100 per cent of a patient's share of the bill.

It has long been argued that the cocktail of anti-retroviral HIV drugs available in Singapore, which costs from $9,800 to $14,300 per year, is too expensive. Patients can only use up to $550 a month from Medisave for HIV treatment.

Latest figures show there are some 2,700 HIV-infected Singaporeans.

In a blog post, Medifund Advisory Council chairman Gerard Ee recalled how MOH had to reject helping HIV patients with their treatment many years back because HIV was then "poorly understood" and "drugs were costly with many side effects".

Now, patients can continue buying generic HIV drugs overseas to keep costs down, or turn to Medifund if they cannot afford to do so, he said.

"We're very happy. It's taken a long time (to get financial aid for HIV treatments)," said a spokesperson for Action for Aids.

"We hope, in addition, at least a few of these medications can be classified as standard drugs, so others who do not qualify for Medifund assistance, and who are still currently gainfully employed, will be able to afford these medications as well."

To wait until HIV patients are too ill to work before they get financial aid "might be too late," he said. "International experts are recommending treatment at an earlier stage of infection."

General practitioner Chua Thiam Eng, whose clinic offers HIV testing, said patients can face social isolation and have difficulty finding jobs, "so (Medifund assistance) definitely will be helpful".

Offering subsidies for all patients could "open a floodgate", he noted.

While previous media reports pointed to the ministry subsidising HIV medication, MOH told MediaCorp on Friday: "Minister Khaw Boon Wan and MOH did not commit in 2008 to subsidising HIV medication."

"Our stand in 2008 was that HIV should be considered like any other chronic disease when evaluating the suitability of providing subsidies for medications."

"MOH has chosen to use the Medifund route to more flexibly help HIV patients with their bills, including that for anti-retroviral drugs if needed. Doing so allows available funds to be focused to provide appropriate amounts of assistance to the most deserving cases."

In 2008, MOH disbursed $59 million via Medifund to needy patients. It has advised HIV patients facing financial difficulties to approach medical social workers in Medifund-approved restructured hospitals and institutions. It will continue to monitor the need for Medifund help. Alicia Wong

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