CHAS clinics advised to displayed reminders of subsidies eligible patients can enjoy

MOH's Reply:

The Straits Times, 11 Sep 2017

CHAS clinics advised to display reminders of subsidies eligible patients can enjoy 

We thank Mr Tan Kok Tim (Make it an SOP to ask for Pioneer Generation card in clinics; Sept 1) and Ms Tan Kim Hong (Why fuss over when Pioneer Generation card is shown?; Forum Online, Aug 29) for their feedback and suggestions.

The writers suggested that the Pioneer Generation (PG) card verification process at the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) clinics be made more seamless, especially for the elderly.

The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) has been working closely with all Chas clinics to ensure that patients are able to benefit from the subsidies they are eligible for.

Chas clinics are required to verify patients' subsidy eligibility during the visit. The Chas clinics can either request for the patient's PG or Chas card, or check electronically via an online portal, to verify the details against the patients' identification cards.

The AIC also advises Chas clinics to put up counter display materials to remind PG and Chas card holders of the subsidies that they are eligible for.

With regard to the experience shared by Ms Tan, we understand that Ms Tan's mother was not given the subsidy initially, as she did not have her PG card for the visit and had agreed to pay with cash.

The clinic has since made a refund to Ms Tan's mother on a goodwill basis, after she returned to the clinic with her PG card.

We will look into ways to make the verification process seamless for eligible card holders.

Lee May Lin (Ms)
Director, Communications and Engagement Group
Ministry of Health

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Forum Letter

The Straits Times, 29 Aug 2017

Why fuss over when Pioneer Generation card is shown?  

My mother was in Hougang Central recently when she experienced an acute pain in her legs and had to be assisted to a nearby clinic by a passer-by.

When she was shown the bill, my mother showed her Pioneer Generation (PG) card to the woman at the counter, only to be told that the card had to be shown at the point of registration. My mother was made to pay the full, unsubsidised bill.

I checked the website of the Community Health Assist Scheme (Chas) and found that the woman was right - in order to enjoy subsidies at Chas clinics, you have to present your Chas or PG card with your NRIC upon registration.

I called Chas for help on this matter, and it reached out to the clinic. However, Chas staff members called back to say that there was nothing further they could do, citing the policy.

This raised a few questions:

Why is there a need for the PG card to be presented at registration? Does it make a difference in the quality of treatment given? If not, then why have such a policy?

PG card holders are elderly and often illiterate. Isn't it sufficient that they can show proof of their subsidy entitlement?

Tan Kim Hong (Ms)

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Forum Letter

The Straits Times, 1 Sep 2017

Make it an SOP to ask for Pioneer Generation card in clinics  

I was dismayed to realise that such a poor attitude has crept into our places of work, and more so at a clinic (Why fuss over when Pioneer Generation card is shown?, by Ms Tan Kim Hong; Forum Online, Aug 30).

Those serving the elderly in places where concessionary rates are available to them should be required to ask the elderly person for his Pioneer Generation card.

We should not let the responsibility of producing it fall to the elderly person, especially if the person is seeking care in times of duress or physical discomfort. We cannot expect a person who is advanced in age to be in the right frame of mind under difficult circumstances.

Making staff ask for the card as a standard procedure shows patience and understanding of the needs of the people they serve. Hopefully, by making it a compulsory part of the routine work flow, junior staff will be encouraged to enhance their caring attitudes and skill sets whenever they attend to our seniors.

Training them well and having refresher courses are the way forward.

Nowadays, we can see a lack of caring attitude towards the elderly. A caring attitude has to be inculcated from the formative age of a child if we are to have a complete U-turn in our social consciousness and graciousness.

Mr Tan Kok Tim