Overseas MediSave scheme under review ahead of Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link launch

Utilisation of the scheme had generally remained low, averaging about 300 claims a year from 2023 to 2025, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung.

A train undergoing testing for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link on Jun 15, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas)

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is assessing whether changes are needed to its overseas MediSave scheme ahead of an expected increase in cross-border patient flow when the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link opens, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Wednesday (Sep 9).

Mr Ong, who is also coordinating minister for social policies, was responding in a written parliamentary reply to Member of Parliament Hamid Razak (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West GRC).

Dr Hamid had asked about the accreditation criteria for overseas hospitals under the scheme and whether the expected increase in patient flow via the RTS Link would warrant changes to the framework.

Mr Ong said utilisation of the scheme had generally remained low, averaging about 300 claims a year from 2023 to 2025, mainly for obstetrics and gynaecology treatments.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less “In view of the expected increase in cross-border patient flow with the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, MOH is currently reviewing the scheme,” he said. Currently, two Malaysian hospitals - Mahkota Medical Centre and Regency Specialist Hospital - participate in the scheme through their MediSave-accredited local partner, HMI Medical Centre. Since the scheme was introduced in 2010, no new local providers have been accredited under it, while one withdrew in 2023, said Mr Ong.

“In view of the expected increase in cross-border patient flow with the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link, MOH is currently reviewing the scheme,” he said.

Currently, two Malaysian hospitals - Mahkota Medical Centre and Regency Specialist Hospital - participate in the scheme through their MediSave-accredited local partner, HMI Medical Centre.

Since the scheme was introduced in 2010, no new local providers have been accredited under it, while one withdrew in 2023, said Mr Ong.

HOW OVERSEAS MEDISAVE WORKS

The use of MediSave for overseas elective treatments is meant to give patients wider choice, said Mr Ong.

Participating overseas hospitals must have an approved working arrangement with a MediSave-accredited institution in Singapore. MOH must approve such partnerships.

The local centre must refer the patient and provide a pre-admission clinical assessment and financial counselling.

MediSave withdrawal limits for treatments in Singapore also apply to treatments overseas.

Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor Bahru told CNA in August that the number of Singapore patients using MediSave at the hospital had doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic .

The private hospital said about 90 per cent of its MediSave patients were women, with obstetrics and gynaecology services, including maternity care, among the most common treatments sought.

The hospital did not disclose the exact number of Singapore patients using MediSave.

RTS LINK SET TO OPEN IN JANUARY 2027

The 4km-long Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will have the capacity to carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction, with the journey taking about five minutes.

It will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore and is projected to have a daily ridership of about 40,000 when operations begin.

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卫生部长王乙康表示，该计划的使用率总体上仍然很低，从 2023 年到 2025 年，平均每年约有 300 项索赔。

2026年6月15日，一列列车正在进行柔佛新山-新加坡捷运系统（RTS）连接线的测试。（资料照片：CNA/Zamzahuri Abas）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：卫生部长王乙康周三（9月9日）表示，随着柔佛新山-新加坡捷运系统（RTS）连接线的开通，预计跨境患者流量将会增加，卫生部正在评估是否需要对其海外保健储蓄计划进行调整。

翁先生同时也是社会政策统筹部长，他是在国会书面答复议员哈米德·拉扎克（人民行动党西海岸裕廊西集选区）时做出上述回应的。

哈米德博士询问了该计划下海外医院的认证标准，以及通过 RTS Link 预计增加的患者流量是否需要对该框架进行修改。

王先生表示，该计划的使用率总体上仍然很低，从 2023 年到 2025 年平均每年约有 300 项索赔，主要用于妇产科治疗。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小小的谜题，强大的脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 “鉴于柔佛新山-新加坡RTS连接线预计将增加跨境患者流量，卫生部目前正在审查该计划，”他说。目前，两家马来西亚医院——马哥打医疗中心和丽晶专科医院——通过其获得保健储蓄计划认证的本地合作伙伴HMI医疗中心参与该计划。翁先生表示，自该计划于2010年推出以来，没有新的本地医疗机构获得认证，而一家医疗机构已于2023年退出。

“鉴于柔佛新山-新加坡RTS连接线预计将增加跨境患者流量，卫生部目前正在审查该计划，”他说。

目前，马来西亚有两家医院——马哥打医疗中心和丽晶专科医院——通过其获得 MediSave 认证的当地合作伙伴 HMI 医疗中心参与该计划。

Ong先生表示，自该计划于2010年推出以来，没有新的本地服务提供商获得认证，而一家服务提供商于2023年退出。

海外医疗储蓄计划如何运作

王先生表示，使用保健储蓄账户进行海外择期治疗旨在为患者提供更广泛的选择。

参与的海外医院必须与新加坡一家获得保健储蓄计划（MediSave）认可的机构签订经批准的合作协议。此类合作关系必须获得新加坡卫生部的批准。

当地中心必须转诊病人，并提供入院前临床评估和财务咨询。

在新加坡接受治疗的保健储蓄取款限额同样适用于海外治疗。

新山丽晶专科医院在 8 月份告诉亚洲新闻台，自 COVID-19 疫情爆发以来，在该医院使用 MediSave 的新加坡患者人数翻了一番。

这家私立医院表示，其 MediSave 患者中约 90% 为女性，其中最常见的治疗包括产科和妇科服务（如孕产妇护理）。

医院没有透露使用保健储蓄计划的新加坡患者的确切人数。

RTS LINK 预计将于 2027 年 1 月开放

全长 4 公里的柔佛新山-新加坡 RTS 连接线每小时单向可运送多达 10,000 名乘客，全程约需 5 分钟。

它将连接柔佛州新山的武吉查卡和新加坡的兀兰北，预计运营开始后，每日客流量将达到约 4 万人次。

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