Anyone refusing to get vaccinated with Covid-19 will lose their free healthcare, according to the health minister of Singapore.
Minister Ong Ye Kung said residents who are eligible for the vaccine but have refused to have it would from December 8 no longer receive free care if they are hospitalised for Covid-19.
Minister of Health said that “unvaccinated persons constitute a substantial majority of people who require intensive care inpatients, and they disproportionately contribute towards the strain on our healthcare resource resources.”
The government had always covered the medical bills of those who are fully vaccinated, under 12, or medically ineligible for the jab.
Singapore is home to one of highest rates of vaccination in the world, with more than 85 percent of residents being jabbed.
But the city-state’s healthcare system is struggling under the strain of a fierce outbreak – its worst Covid-19 wave since the start of the pandemic – reporting around 2,000-3,000 cases a day and a handful of deaths.
The city’s health minister yesterday announced that anyone refusing to be vaccinated will have their Covid-19 coverage in Singapore canceled.
The affected individuals will be able continue to access regular financing options to pay the costs, including private insurance.
“Hospitals would prefer to not have to bill such patients,” he said. However, we must send this signal to encourage everyone to get immunized if they are eligible.
According to the health minister, residents who have been partially vaccinated will not be charged for hospital treatment until December 31st. This gives them sufficient time to receive the second shot.
Medically ineligible people can now visit any doctor to receive an exemption card. They will be able to provide proof that the patient has not received the vaccine.
Also, the government is working to create an automated system that will streamline medically ineligible residents’ checks so they can enter places without needing to present paper documentation.
The Health Ministry advised residents who are not vaccinated to limit their exposure to the public to prevent them from catching and spreading Covid-19.
The ministry said: ‘While we have extended a concession to those who are medically ineligible to be able to dine-in, enter malls and participate in activities where required, they remain unvaccinated and their risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and/or becoming severely ill remains real and very high.
“We encourage them to minimize such activity and to make use of this concession wisely.”
Singapore was spared a severe outbreak according to international standards. However, it only experienced an epidemic in the last few months following its exposure to the Delta variant.
Singapore experienced a mild virus outbreak according to global standards. It was only hit by the Delta variant in the last few months. (pictured: Masked residents stroll through Little India District of Singapore).