Unsubsidized Robotic Surgery Remains Beyond the Reach of Poorer Patients

Dear TRS,

I hope you can share with Singaporeans this weird anomaly in our healthcare system so that a wider population of Singaporeans is aware of this issue before they sign up for robotic surgery without realizing they can't afford it.

My father, who is unemployed was recommended robotic surgery for his condition (kidney cancer) by the doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital as it was "standard procedure" but they failed to explain that it is unsubsidized and extremely expensive.

What I don't understand is why is robotic surgery, which is much more effective and safe not subsidized by our government?

Here is the letter I wrote to our health minister about the issue: 

Dear Mr Gan,

I refer to my letter to the ST Forum on 21 May 14 - a copy of which is attached. 

Since my letter, I have spoken to my father's doctor who explained that robotic surgery is the standard procedure prescribed by medical professionals for my father's condition (kidney cancer). The benefits include far lower risks of bleeding and faster recovery time.  The latter, I would assume will alleviate the bed crunch which our public hospitals are facing.

Yet despite these pros, robotic surgery remains significantly unsubsidized. Hospital staff told me that this poses a major issue for lower income or unemployed patients like my father who is required to pay $6,675 in cash (not covered by insurance nor Medisave) although he was advised by the financial counsellor to be admitted as a B2 patient.  This large cash outlay is due to the unsubsidized costs of consumables and investigations which are greatly disproportionate to the subsidized hospitalization and surgery costs.