A healthcare worker prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Singapore on April 21, 2021. (Photo: channelnewsasia.com)

Singapore (VNA) - The Singaporean government has recently adjusted its policy on supporting the treatment ofCOVID-19 patients.

Accordingly, thereare two groups of people who will not be fully covered for treatment fees. They include COVID-19patients aged above 18 who do not get a booster jab within nine monthsfrom their last dose and those aged above 12 who remain unvaccinated “by choice”.

The adjustment was announced by ParliamentarySecretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam on January 10.

Mahza said there is sufficient evidence thatvaccines can help reduce the risk of serious illness and death. Unvaccinated peopleaged above 12 are fully aware that their decision puts themselves at risk ofhaving to undergo a more expensive course of treatment and increases pressureon the national health system.

Previously, the Singapore Government  fully covered the treatment costs for COVID-19patients who are Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and long-term passholders if they did not return from overseas travel.

The "special treatment" is appliedwhen COVID-19 has just emerged, aiming to avert the situation where worriesabout treatment costs increase psychological distress and anxiety in thecommunity, she said.

Rahayu also noted that although the COVID-19medical bills for the above-mentioned two groups of people are not fullycovered under the new regulations, they can still seek support from normal health carepackages if eligible.

The same day, speaking at the Singapore parliament, SecondMinister for Finance Indranne Rajah said that the government has not yetdetermined the exact timing of raising the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 2 percent, saying this is a government’ssupport measure to help minimise the impact on households.

Beforethe occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had affirmed that theapplication of the GST hike would depend on the economic situation, the spendingand the tax rate at that time, she said, adding that the Government iscarefully considering overall economic conditions to determine the exact timingof the increase.

🐼 The plan to raise the GST by two percentagepoints, from 7 percent to 9 percent, was first announced in 2018 duringthen-Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s Budget speech. At the time, he saidthat the hike would take place sometime from 2021 to 2025./.