Fact Check : SGH Bills $192,068 For COVID-19 Treatment 😱

A bill showing SGH (Singapore General Hospital) charging a patient over $192K for COVID-19 treatment is going viral on WhatsApp.

Find out what’s going on, and if it’s true that hospitals in Singapore are charging so much to treat COVID-19!

 

Claim : SGH Bills $192,068 For COVID-19 Treatment 😱

Circulating on WhatsApp was this message, accompanied by a bill of S$192,068 from SGH (Singapore General Hospital).

Here are the charges SGH apparently charged this COVID-19 patient for 9 days in a Class C ward and 18 days in the Class C ICU :

The total (which is NOT the final bill) comes up to S$180,143, because the patient had earlier paid SGH S$11,062.

 

The Truth : That Is Not For COVID-19 Treatment @ SGH

The SGH bill for a whopping S$192K is genuine, but it is NOT for the treatment of COVID-19.

It is actually the bill of a patient who is still in the ICU with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and tuberculosis with severe pneumonia.

Because both the patient (Tan Wen Bin) and her husband are Chinese nationals, they do not receive the healthcare subsidies that Singaporean citizens and permanent resident receive.

The pictures were taken from their Give.Asia page, where they were asking for donations to help support her care until they are allowed to travel back to China.

 

COVID-19 Treatment Costs In Singapore

On 9 March 2020, the Singapore Ministry of Health announced the “prioritisation of resources at public hospitals”.

Here are their policies regarding COVID-19 treatment in public hospitals from 7 March 2020 onwards :

Singaporean Citizens, Permanent Residents + Long-Term Pass Holders

• Free COVID-19 tests + treatments
• Subsidised consultation and treatment at Public Health Preparedness Clinics

Foreigners with short-term visit passes (STVP)

• Free COVID-19 tests
• Must pay for COVID-19 treatments (expected between S$6,000 to S$8,000)

This was a reversal from their earlier policy on 12 February that the Singaporean government would pay the hospital bill IN FULL for COVID-19 treatment and tests in public hospitals, except for outpatient treatment at GP clinics or polyclinics.

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe from the coronavirus :

• Avoid suspected cases or disease hotpots, like hospitals, if possible!
• Avoid public events and crowds
• Keep our hands clean with soap or hand sanitiser
• Keep our home, office, vehicles, etc. clean
• If you need to wear a surgical mask, make sure you put it on and remove it properly!
• Wash your food with water (and soap) after purchase and before preparation

Recommended : COVID-19 : Hand Sanitiser or Soap? Which Is Better?
Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To CORRECTLY Wear + Remove!
Recommended : Grocery Shopping Safety During COVID-19
Recommended : COVID-19 Food Safety : Fruits, Vegetables, Takeouts

 

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