Why was fee levied for a medical report?

I recently paid about $80 for a medical report from SGH to support my application for insurance claims. This medical report had only a twopage summary with information on my condition and laboratory results. Why must I pay for a medical report which consists mainly results of tests I paid for previously? Also, is it possible for SGH to give the patient a copy of all his blood and X-ray results?

Upon discharge, every patient will be given a Hospital Inpatient Discharge Summary. There is NO charge for this. This document provides a summary of the patient’s medical condition, investigations done and medication given during a specifi c hospitalisation episode. Patients who want to make insurance claims or apply for fi nancial assistance from a Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO), can check with the insurance company or VWO if the information in this document is suffi cient to support the claims or applications.

If the insurance company or VWO requires a specifi c medical report and provides forms to be fi lled up, the forms will be completed by an experienced doctor. Th e practice is in line with the terms of the insurance company or VWO requirements. The completion of an insurance claim form or VWO application is not done during the patient’s outpatient
visit. Th is is because the doctor needs time to review the patient’s full medical records and fi ll in the form with the correct information as required.

The regular consultation and hospitalisation fees paid do NOT include cost for a medical report as not every patient requires one. A fee has to be levied for this additional service of providing medical reports to cover the hospital’s administrative costs and the doctor’s professional input. This is a standard practice across all the Restructured Hospitals.

At SGH, patients may request copies of their laboratory test results and diagnostic radiology reports during consultation at the Specialist Outpatient Clinic. There is NO charge for this. Patient may also request for copies
of laboratory test results and radiology reports from the Medical Report section at Block 3 Level 1 beside the
Medical Social Services department. There is an administrative charge of $5.35 (inclusive of 7% GST) regardless of the number of test results requested.

Anne Goh, Manager, Health
Information Management Services, SGH.

Resource Link
Outram Now - March/April 2008, Singapore General Hospital Bi-monthly Publication
Treat prolonged pain before it becomes a disease,
Download @ Outram Now - March/April 2008