Last Tue (15 Jan), an elderly doctor, Dr Wong Kai Peng, 71, wrote to ST Forum complaining about the shocking fee charged by NUH (‘Shocking fee quoted for quick surgery‘).

He shared that he had an operation at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) recently.

“Though I am fully covered by private insurance, I find the cost of medical care in Singapore ridiculously expensive,” he said.

“On recommendation I first went to the National University Hospital (NUH) to have my glaucoma and cataract condition looked into.”

He was then recommended by NUH to get a day-surgery for his eye operation so as to have his cataract removed. He was also recommended to have a pump inserted into his eye to relieve the pressure inside to treat his glaucoma condition.

Dr Wong revealed, “The fee quoted was a staggering $19,000. I was very uncomfortable with what I would be charged and decided to seek a second opinion at the SNEC, which quoted me a fee of $9,000.”

He wrote to ask publicly:

  • Why are the surgical fees that high, given that the operation was not complicated and would take only 40 minutes? Perhaps it is due to the expensive implants?
  • Why is there such a huge disparity in prices between NUH and SNEC?

“This episode is highly relevant given the recent fracas at the SNEC concerning MediShield Life payout, even though my case is completely private and has no government subsidy,” he said.

NUH CEO: Difference in pricing due to different treatment options

Today (24 Jan), NUH CEO, Dr Eugene Liu, finally responded on ST Forum (‘Surgery charges depend on treatments offered‘).

NUH CEO replied that the senior eye surgeon who treated Dr Wong was of the opinion that the treatments recommended were suitable for Dr Wong.

With regard to the estimated fees quoted in Dr Wong’s case, they were based on “a complex procedure performed under general anaesthesia by a senior consultant that included both a laser procedure for cataract extraction with implant and glaucoma surgery with another implant”, the NUH CEO said.

“We understand that SNEC had recommended a different treatment option, without a laser procedure and with a different glaucoma implant. This resulted in lower charges than NUH’s estimate.”

But the CEO also noted that while professional opinions in what constitutes the most appropriate treatment for an individual patient may vary, the senior surgeon should have informed Dr Wong about other treatment options, as well as the associated costs.

NUH CEO apologised for the shortcoming.

“We apologise for this and have counselled our surgeon on this matter,” he said. “We would like to assure the public that treatment options are available to patients based on their conditions and needs.”

Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

替父母伪造解雇信骗疫情薪金补贴 男子被判监禁三个月

为了骗取政府三个月的冠状病毒19薪金补贴,男子伪造母亲和父亲的解雇信函,遭当局揭发后被控上庭,昨日(9月17日)被判入狱三个月。 当时处于失业状况的43岁被告,爱德华(译音)昨日在庭上面对两项伪造文件控状,他认罪后被判刑。他也是首个因骗取政府冠病津贴,而被定罪的个案。 据案情指出,政府冠病疫情薪金补贴(Covid-19 Support Grant)于今年3月宣布推出,提供长达三个月,不超过800元的津贴,以协助因疫情失业、被迫拿三个月无薪假、薪水减少超过三成的中低收入社群。 被告的母亲(67岁)为饮食摊位助理,于5月4日被摊位老板以疫情为由,口头通知她被裁退,直到6月3日才发出裁员信函。而被告早已离异的厨师老爸(68岁),于3月2日到老板介绍的新东家摊位工作,但是因不喜欢环境而选择在同月9日辞职。 在得知父母亲都失业的情况后,被告就用电脑上的应用程序,将雇佣信件上的雇主签名“转移”到所伪造的父母亲解雇信函内,并于5月5日和5月14日将“解雇信函”递交给社会及家庭发展部。 有关信件起初成功骗过当局,被告父亲获得了首个800元的津贴。但是当局很快发现信件的可疑之处,停止对被告父亲继续发放津贴,也没有批准被告母亲的申请。被告父亲在事发后,已经将800元交还给政府当局了。 庭上,控方指疫情津贴并非“免费钱”,是用来帮助受疫情影响而失业或失去收入的群体,但是被告却利用疫情来为父母谋取政府津贴,犯下了难以发现的罪行,法庭应该给出强烈信息以遏止类似恶性。 控方认为被告知法犯法,深知父亲不符合资格,母亲没有文件却还策划这起案件,实不可取。惟,控方指出,被告母亲其实符合了申请资格,只是在申请时段还未获得解雇信函,因此促请法官将被告判入狱三个月。 被告法官在求情时指出,被告在整件事情中并没有受惠,他所作旨在帮助失业的父母亲谋得福利,只是方式不对,因此请求法官判监刑六至八个星期。 法官最终同意控方的建议,下判被告入狱三个月,以起到警醒社会的作用。

MND launches Code of Governance for Town Councils to promote greater transparency and raise governance standards

The Ministry of National Development (MND) has announced the launch of the…

Good effort, but much more substance needed

Changes are cosmetic to the point of banality, says Choo Zheng Xi.

PRC group attacks and kills S’porean with sledge hammer

Report from TR Emeritus: A netizen, Erwan Zainal, posted a note on…