Man suggests free and more accessible Covid-19 test

Singapore — A woman who was unwell took a Covid-19 test that apparently cost more than S$300 in total. Her husband is now asking why the charge cannot be absorbed by the Government.

The couple had returned from a minor pilgrimage (umrah) when the wife felt unwell. She had a slight cough and fever.

They consulted a general practitioner who gave them a note advising them to visit the nearest hospital. They went to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the National University Hospital (NUH).

In a Facebook post on Monday (March 16), the man wrote that after his wife was admitted to the hospital and tested for Covid-19, the test result came up negative.

He added: “A few days ago … We received e invoice from e hospital demanding us to pay $458.52 less $156 = $323.27 for e test.”

According to a copy of the invoice, the accident and emergency (A&E) charges came to about S$277, with the Covid-19 test costing S$159.

The man wrote: “My question is shouldn’t e test be free claimable to e government and not chargeable to us as we volunteer to go to e hospital to ensure that we are not e carrier of e Covid-19.”

Almost 200 people reacted to his post.

Many were unclear about the breakdown of the medical bill but, after subsidies and deductions, the woman had to pay only S$143.10.

TISG has reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment and clarification. /TISG