You’d have known that since 7 March 2020, foreigners who come to Singapore on a short-term visit pass (i.e. primarily tourists) would need pay for their own COVID-19 treatment should they be tested positive.
This, according to MOH, is to prioritise the resources at Singapore’s public hospitals.
Testing would still be free, though, and all travellers who exhibited symptoms would be tested on the spot.
Well, it seems like a right decision because as of yesterday (12 March 2020), there have been five individuals who came to Singapore, and some of them had already exhibited symptoms before landing on our shore.
They are
- A 64-year-old Indonesia announced on 8 March
- A 65-year-old Indonesian announced on 9 March
- A 56-year-old Indonesian announced on 11 March
- An 83-year-old Indonesian announced yesterday
- A 76-year-old Indonesian announced yesterday
Like what Albert Einstein once said, “Don’t anyhowly speculate that people are abusing the system,” so let’s not draw conclusions yet.
Though, the system is now in place to prevent abuse, and two of them might have regretted if they had intentions to abuse the system.
Reader Bao: I thought you said you shouldn’t anyhowly speculate
I said if. And by the way, do you know that taking a boat to Singapore is so much cheaper than taking a plane? Bet you didn’t know that.
2 Indonesians Who Had COVID-19 & Came to S’pore Became First Patients to be Warded in Private Hospital
The last two patients that were announced yesterday weren’t sent to NCID or any public hospital for isolation and treatment.
Instead, they were sent to Gleneagles Hospital, a high-SES private hospital that’s definitely going to cost more than the journey here to Singapore—even if they take a plane.
Also, these two are the first two patients to be warded in a private hospital instead of a public one, and chances are they’re not going to be the last.
And guess what: we can give you an agak agak inside look of the hospital on how atas it is as we’ve done a branded video for the hospital’s parent company, Parkway Pantai.
Here, take a look:
(Do check out our YouTube channel for more entertaining and informative videos!)
PM Lee: Priorities for High-Risk Individuals
Yesterday, PM Lee addressed the nation and mentioned that if there is a spike in cases, public hospitals might be overloaded.
That’s understandable; imagine we have as many cases as China. Even if we build 10 more hospitals, there won’t be enough beds for every COVID-19 patient. After all, each patient is supposed to be isolated.
In other words, Singapore’s doing its thing again: the authorities are planning ahead, and if anyone who’s interested to take a boat down to Singapore to receive free treatment, they should’ve received a message: don’t try it.
Not only do you have to pay for your own treatment, you’d have to pay more as you’d be in a private hospital instead.
Just so you know, Singaporeans, Singapore PRs and foreigners with long-term passes (e.g. work pass, student pass or long-term visit pass) can still receive free treatment, as this group of people definitely has no intention to abuse the system.
