No Medisave for Mammograms in Singapore

At a separate constituency event, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan was also about the opposition parties’ recruitment drive.

He said it was good that more young and better educated people were entering politics.

Mr Khaw, who has been leading Sembawang GRC since 2006, said he welcomes competition at the next general election, which is due by end 2012.

"It does not matter whether it’s PAP or non—PAP. If you like Singapore, if you think you’ve a better idea to run a better place; if you think you can run Sembawang better than I do, please come forward," he said.

"If the people think they can do a better job than Khaw Boon Wan, then so be it. I think that is the beauty of democracy — one man one vote."

Mr Khaw also commented on a suggestion to allow Medisave fund to be used for mammograms. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Lim Hwee Hua suggested this at a breast screening event on Saturday.

But Mr Khaw disagreed with the suggestion. He said: "My general rule of thumb is this — anything less than $100 — $20, $30 — please pay out of your own pocket. I think Medisave should be reserved for big bills. So let’s don’t abuse Medisave. This is not to say I’m against (using) Medisave for screening, because some screenings can be very expensive."

Mammograms, if subsidised, cost between $25 and $50.

I appeal all Singaporeans to keep this in mind. The fact is, most women in the lower income group are suffering the risk of breast/cervic cancers.