Healthcare | Need for regulations that put patient care ahead of commercial decisions by insurers

In Parliament on Sept 24, questions were raised on the need for regulations to prevent insurers from influencing healthcare decisions against the best interests of policyholders. While Integrated Shield Plans are private commercial products, they are built on the national MediShield Life scheme, making arguments for their regulation a delicate but important consideration.

- Ng Chee Kwan (Dr)

There are clear circumstances where decisions made by IP insurers may adversely affect the care of policyholders, which call for regulation to put patient E care ahead of commercial decisions.

Removing specialists from panels without clear justification affects the continuity of patient care. Last year, a particular IP insurer removed 126 specialists which amounted to 15 per cent of the specialists on its panel. As a result, patients stand to face potential disruptions in treatment.