SINGAPORE — A total of S$155.2 million in Medical Endowment Fund (Medifund) assistance was given to needy patients in Financial Year 2015, less than the S$159.3 million provided the previous year.

However, aid given to patients under intermediate and long-term care rose from S$23.6 million to S$26 million, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday.

It noted that recent outpatient subsidy enhancements for the lower- and middle-income and Pioneer Generation (PG) patients, as well as changes in Medisave coverage, have improved the overall affordability of healthcare and contributed to the lower Medifund assistance.

For FY2015, Medifund assistance for care in public hospitals and institutions amounted to S$129.2 million, down from the S$135.7 million of the year before. During this period, 99.9 per cent of the Medifund applications received were approved, MOH said in a press release.

The number of applications approved for Medifund and Medifund Silver assistance grew 9 per cent, from 1,006,168 in FY2014 to 1,096,628 in FY2015.

The average amount of Medifund assistance provided was S$1,529 per inpatient treatment and S$77 per outpatient treatment.

Set up in 1993, the Medifund scheme helps Singaporeans who are unable to afford their medical bills, even after government subsidies and after tapping their MediShield Life, private insurance, Medisave and cash payments. Each Medifund-approved institution — which includes public hospitals, national speciality centres, polyclinics and various intermediate and long-term care facilities — has a Medifund committee that evaluates and approves applications from eligible patients.

The committees also decide on the quantum of assistance to be provided.

Over the years, the Medifund scheme has been enhanced to provide better support to Singaporeans who need additional assistance.

For example, Medifund Silver and Medifund Junior were introduced to ensure that the elderly and children from needy families would receive the help they needed. Medifund also now covers more healthcare services such as primary care in polyclinics, dental, antenatal and delivery services.