The New york times reported that for the first time in a decade, Americans are cutting back in their medication in favour of spending on food and gas.
Could this happen in Singapore? I certainly hope not, but for patients suffering from illnesses that generic drugs are not yet available and the cost of branded drugs is still steep, this could be a real possibility.
The longer term impact could well mean that patients allow their "illness to cook" until they are really ill before they are conveyed to the accident and emergency department and receive intensive interventions that could be much more costlier - both for the patients and the nation.
Singapore Healthcare system has safety net that Singaporeans could depend on. Basic and affordable healthcare is available through the polyclinics and the public hospitals. We should not let this happen.
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