Loopholes in service for healthcare assistance schemes for elderly

As Singapore’s population is ageing, the Government has initiated efforts to help senior citizens with healthcare costs, such as by introducing the Pioneer Generation Package to provide subsidies, and building more clinics and hospitals to cater to rising demand for healthcare.

Volunteers such as myself who work with the elderly applaud these initiatives.

However, these programmes also entail the need for better service and coordination among healthcare institutions.

In recent months, senior citizens on Public Assistance (PA) have come to us, puzzled that they have received notification on payments due after consultations at the polyclinics or public hospitals, despite having presented their PA card at registration.

When we call the hospital or Social Service Office to enquire on this matter, the staff are usually unaware of this scheme.

Should there not be a system accessible to all public hospitals, polyclinics and general clinics, such that a patient’s social assistance details appear when their identity card numbers are entered?

It is also important to educate and train the front-line personnel on the various healthcare assistance schemes.

Service by healthcare professionals can also be improved.

We had a case of a senior citizen who was discharged from a hospital recently, with a letter to be given to a polyclinic at his next appointment. The man, who could not understand English, asked us to explain the letter’s contents to him when we visited him. He also mentioned that his foot had swollen after he was discharged.

When we called the hospital, we were initially told, to our surprise, that the man had yet to be discharged.

After the hospital staff realised that we were with the man, she told us that she did not have details on the patient’s condition and that a letter had been posted to him with details of his follow-up appointment.

Asked whether we should be concerned about his swelling foot, we were directed to take him to a clinic for a check.

Although we understand that medical details are confidential, we were disappointed that the staff member was unable to be of more help.

As volunteers, we are more than happy to work with different voluntary welfare organisations and government agencies to bridge the social needs and concerns of our beneficiaries.

We hope that the relevant stakeholders can look into closing such loopholes.