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Why is there a 34% difference in prices of eye medication at two public hospitals?

I refer to Mr Rashid Osman’s Jan 13 letter asking why polyclinics charge more than a hospital for flu jabs. I, on the other hand, wonder why different restructured hospitals here sell the same medicine at drastically different prices.

I refer to Mr Rashid Osman’s Jan 13 letter asking why polyclinics charge more than a hospital for flu jabs. I, on the other hand, wonder why different restructured hospitals here sell the same medicine at drastically different prices.

My mother, who has glaucoma, recently found out that she has been paying S$45.80 for a 3ml bottle of Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.01 per cent) eye drops at National University Hospital (NUH) for some years, while her friend pays only S$34.24 for the same thing at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). 

Both are private patients from the pioneer generation who buy non-subsidised medication at the two public hospitals.

While I understand that the two hospitals belong to different clusters, with NUH under the National University Health System and TTSH under the National Healthcare Group, it baffles me why there exists such a huge price disparity of S$11.56 or 34 per cent for Lumigan eye drops. 

I hope that by highlighting this disconcerting discovery, it would lead to NUH adjusting its price downwards and not TTSH increasing its price.

The Ministry of Health ought to look into the pricing policies of restructured hospitals in Singapore to ensure that healthcare costs remain affordable and hospitals keep any profit motive in check.

Have views on this issue or a news topic you care about? Send your letter to voices [at] mediacorp.com.sg with your full name, address and phone number.

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medical healthcare NUH TTSH MOH

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