THE Government is making a further distinction in the privileges enjoyed by citizens and permanent residents, this time, in the health-care sector.

Citizens already benefit from higher subsidies than PRs. New changes will widen that gap to 20 percentage points.

It means a PR patient in a C class hospital ward will receive a subsidy of 45 per cent to 60 per cent whereas the citizen's subsidy remains unchanged at 65 per cent to 80 per cent.

In a B2 ward, the PR patient s subsidy will be 30 per cent to 45 per cent, compared to 50 per cent to 65 per cent for citizens.

The changes will be made in two phases in January and July next year.

Announcing this yesterday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan called the changes a "meaningful refinement to the current policy" and added: "The key point is that citizens should enjoy better subsidy than non-citizens."

PRs now comprise 6 per cent of subsidised hospital patients About 13,000 were warded in B2 or C class wards last year and 113,000 received subsidised treatment at specialist clinics.

In all the subsidy for PRs added up to 40 million last year, said a Health Ministry spokesman.

Mr Khaw reckoned that the changes will save $7 million a year, which can be channelled to more Singaporeans.

The difference in subsidy will also apply in nursing homes and community hospitals, and will be implemented from July next year.

The latest move to draw a clearer distinction between citizens and PRs follows last month's announcement of changes to school fees and balloting for Primary 1 places.

School fees for PRs will be raised, and by 2012, they will pay three times more than citizens. Where there is balloting for Primary 1 places, PRs will continue to get one ballot whereas citizens will get two to
improve their chances.

There are already other distinctions made between citizens and PRs in housing, taxes, childcare subsidies and even what they pay when their Housing Board blocks are upgraded.

Mr Khaw, an MP for Sembawang GRC, said he has PRs seeking his support to be come citizens, because they want to save $10,000 when their block is upgraded.

He felt it would not be a bad thing if the new changes giving more to citizens prompt PRs to take up citizenship, as they would be committing to Singapore.

The subject of privileges has been raised time and again, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong promising in 2004 that citizens would be treated better, though he also stressed that PRs should not be made to feel unwelcome.

Professor Ho Khai Leong of the Nanyang Technological University said administrative reforms to distinguish rights of citizens and immigrants were a "major symptom of a country suddenly facing a large influx of foreigners".

Latest official data show there are 533,200 foreigners who are PRs.

Associate Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, a Nominated MP, said that while citizens might be pleased with the changes, the flip side is a "a less welcoming picture" to PRs and foreigners considering settling here.

"We don't want to push them into a situation where they do not feel part of the core group. They might start to treat this place like a hotel and use it just for business and work," she said.

Foreigners contacted said the changes will make it harder for the average middle-income PR to cope with rising costs.

Miss Hang Laiheng, a PR from Malaysia said: "We feel like an adopted son or daughter but getting less money from our parents."

Housewife Rowena Artiaga, 44, a PR from the Philippines, thinks drawing a distinction with citizens is fair.

"But perhaps the gap should not widen too much. Otherwise, we will feel the pinch too," she said.

SUBSIDIES AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND NATIONAL CENTRES

	Citizens (no change)	PRs Now	PRs Jan 1, 2011	PRs July 1, 2011
Class C	80%	70%	65%	60%
Class B2	65%	55%	50%	45%
Day Surgery	65%	55%	50%	45%
Specialist Outpatient	50%	40%	35%	30%

SUBSIDIES FOR INTERMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM CARE

Citizens (no change)	PRs Now	PRs Jan 1, 2011	PRs July 1, 2011
75%	65%	60%	55%