SINGAPORE: The Singapore Democratic Party plans to increase wages for healthcare professionals to attract more to work in the sector. This was one of its plans in its S$10 billion healthcare proposal, which the party said will be funded by moving money away from other ministries like defence.
Dr James Gomez was responding to Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan's questions on how the SDP plans to fund its proposals.
Dr Gomez said: "The amount in this healthcare plan comes from two sources - one is drawn from our shadow budget, where we recommend certain high spending ministries are given a lower sum...we also are looking at defence as an option to reduce, so the money would come from a reallocation from other ministries."
While the party has suggested turning void decks into polyclinics, Mr Khaw has questioned how the SDP intends to increase the number of doctors and nurses to man these polyclinics.
"We want to welcome senior GPs to do ward rounds in the afternoon. So while during the day and evening, their clinics are busy. In the afternoon, when they have less patients at the clinics, they can come over and do the rounds in wards. This is quite common in many developed countries and is currently taking place in Australia," said Dr Gomez.
The SDP also suggested increasing the wages of nurses to elevate their accreditation to a degree-level programme.
The SDP has also proposed that the Medisave, Medishield and Medifund scheme be re-examined.
The party suggested a national health insurance scheme, an idea Mr Khaw has rejected, saying Medishield is already a form of national health insurance with co-payment to prevent abuse.
The party is now asking for Mr Khaw to provide evidence that such a health insurance scheme would not work and would be open to abuse.
Dr Gomez said: "I don't understand what Mr Khaw is saying - who is abusing the system, could we have some concrete evidence about that?"
-CNA/ac
Dr James Gomez was responding to Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan's questions on how the SDP plans to fund its proposals.
Dr Gomez said: "The amount in this healthcare plan comes from two sources - one is drawn from our shadow budget, where we recommend certain high spending ministries are given a lower sum...we also are looking at defence as an option to reduce, so the money would come from a reallocation from other ministries."
While the party has suggested turning void decks into polyclinics, Mr Khaw has questioned how the SDP intends to increase the number of doctors and nurses to man these polyclinics.
"We want to welcome senior GPs to do ward rounds in the afternoon. So while during the day and evening, their clinics are busy. In the afternoon, when they have less patients at the clinics, they can come over and do the rounds in wards. This is quite common in many developed countries and is currently taking place in Australia," said Dr Gomez.
The SDP also suggested increasing the wages of nurses to elevate their accreditation to a degree-level programme.
The SDP has also proposed that the Medisave, Medishield and Medifund scheme be re-examined.
The party suggested a national health insurance scheme, an idea Mr Khaw has rejected, saying Medishield is already a form of national health insurance with co-payment to prevent abuse.
The party is now asking for Mr Khaw to provide evidence that such a health insurance scheme would not work and would be open to abuse.
Dr Gomez said: "I don't understand what Mr Khaw is saying - who is abusing the system, could we have some concrete evidence about that?"
-CNA/ac
