SS SEQ (Healthcare) Q: The government plays an important role in the provision of healthcare in Singapore. Do you agree?

Explain your answer.

Intro: Healthcare is a constant challenge of all gov, as gov have to manage the limited resources and competiting needs. While they play a very critical role, is is important for both individuals and community to play their part in the provision of healthcare as well. AGREE: 1. Government provides subsidies Ensures basic healthcare ROLE OF GOV collected from taxes aand give services are available for all - Ensure healthcare them to medical centres (e.g. gov Singaporeans, esp for loweraffordable so that hospitals, polyclinics and some income group it is accessible to nursing homes for the elderly) the public -> In 2000, subsidies made up of gov spendin on healthcare fr SG Link: 2. E.g. of how subsidies work -> Class C 80% [highest subsidy]; Healthcare is a public Different rates of subsidies to Class A - no subsidy good, good different class wards in hosp. management of this 3. Means-testing Ensure limited resources reach public good needy critical measure of 4. Medifund Ensure those who cant afford good gov have access 5. Restructuring of hospitals Ensure high standards in healthcare at affordable prices ROLE OF GOV 1. Encouraging of regular physical Better health among - Promote a healthy exercises & a well-balanced diet population; Overcome rising lifestyle among -> Through advertisements and cost of healthcare individuals citizens public campaigns in schools and need not spend on medical workplaces expenses DISAGREE: 1. Through Medisave Despite efforts of gov, ROLE OF INDIVUALS -> Ensures a certain amount of $ individuals have responsibility - Structures from the Central Provident Fund to work and put aside funds encouraging self(CPF) set aside for hospital bills, that can be used for their reliance for ones certain medical treatments healthcare needs through these healthcare are put (e.g. chemotheraphy and high structures in place by gov bp) 2. MediShield LINK: -> A national healthcare Reduce chances of illinsurance scheme for long term health = cope w rising treatment of more serious cost of healthcare illnesses more health (e.g. dialysis ) conscious, fall sick Must also be responsible in less easily maintaining good health Need share -> PE and well-balanced diets reponsibility w gov or else higher taxes

 Neither beneficial to them/state DISAGREE: ROLE OF COMMUNITY - Government working with the community LINK: With many hands approach to healthcare Ensure more ppl can meet their healthcare needs w/o overtax state translate into taxation of ppl

1. Commnity needs to provide some healthcare support services to meet ppl needs (E.g. In SG, some ppl discharged from hosp still need medical healthcare) 2. Voluntary welfare organisations and some private organisations are given grants by gov to run community hospitals, nursing homes and day rehabilitation centres for these patients 3. Take responsibility as part of civil society to bring much needed services in healthcare to the public

Government alone cannot run all healthcare services.

E.g. Healthcare services that cater to needs of specific groups of people are organisations like the National Kidney Foundation and St Lukes hospital Many of these org depend on donations from community too -> show caring & many hands approach to healthcare

Conclusion: In conclusion, I feel that healthcare is the ultimate responsibility of the gov. Only the gov can put in place mandatory structures such as Medisave and Medishield in Singapore, before individuals & community can join hands w the gov to take responsibility for their own healthcare. Furthermore, only gov has the means to build and manage facilities like hospitals with million-dollar equipment and numerous polyclinics and other healthcare facilities for everyone. Finally, in this globalised world where spread of disease can become pandemic, it is only gov that has the ability to manage and control the chaos. Despite said, the government aloonoe cannot see to all healthcare needs esp in rapidly growing populations. Hence, the gov require the individuals themselves to take their own responsibility for their health, and the community to take some responsibility too or else the public will be poorer for it. With the gov, community as well as indiv working together, there will then be better healthcare in SG.