In an attempt to encourage vaccines, Singapore’s health ministry declared that the government will no longer fund the healthcare expenditures of Covid-19 patients who chose to stay unvaccinated.
Currently, unvaccinated persons make up a sizable majority of those who require intensive inpatient care, and disproportionately contribute to the strain on our healthcare resources,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday, adding that the same group makes up “the bulk of severe and ICU cases” and imposes “a strain on our healthcare system.”
“Hence, from 8 December 2021, we will begin charging Covid-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice,” the Ministry stated.
While the government said its 70%-full ICU capacity is still “manageable” and that the vast majority of infections have been “mild” or asymptomatic as of late, it noted the pandemic is still “stretching our healthcare manpower” and a resurgence in cases could “overwhelm” the hospital system.
Forsided, 09.11.2021