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Many aid schemes and funds available to locals, foreigners who can’t pay
 HOSPITALS here offer many options for patients who cannot afford to pay their medical bills. Most also have assistance schemes or funds to help the needy. This should come as good news for people like Malaysian Kee Yau Chong, who faces a medical bill of more than $100,000 after he was set on fire by a colleague during a quarrel in June this year. The hefty bill is due in part to the fact that Mr Kee, 24, is not entitled to the various health-care subsidies available to Singaporeans.
Mr Kee, who had burns to about 28 per cent of his body, was warded at the burns unit in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for 46 days, where he underwent multiple skin grafts. He will be returning to the hospital for another operation soon in the hope of restoring function to his left hand, which was badly injured. His attacker, carpenter Kuu Siau Lam, 65, was jailed for four years last week. The two were employees at SH Indeco, which makes wood products. They got into an argument after Mr Kee bumped into Kuu and did not apologise. The older man then splashed thinner on Mr Kee and set him alight.
SGH chief financial officer Wong Loong Kin said patients’ safety and well-being are the hospital’s priority. “No patient will be denied basic medical treatment because of his inability to pay,” he said. “For patients with financial difficulties and who find it hard to pay the balance amount in one lump sum, the hospital will explore assistance options.” These include financial aid under the hospital’s Needy Patients Fund and Sing- Health Foundation. Other hospitals such as Changi General Hospital (CGH) offer instalment plans to help patients who have trouble paying large bills at one go. The interest-free plans are available to both Singaporeans and foreigners, said a CGH spokesman. The period for repayment and monthly amount is decided jointly with the patient, she added. Mr Kee has no personal medical insurance, and if the incident is classified as non-work-related, the policy his employer bought for him will not cover his bills. Lawyers said he could file a civil suit against his attacker for damages, but it is unlikely he will be able to get a significant amount from Kuu.
One option for Mr Kee would be to sue his former employer for vicarious liability. This means the company should be held responsible for the accident since the attacker was its employee. But lawyer Kevin Kwek of Legal Solutions thinks it is a long shot and Mr Kee may not succeed. SH Indeco director William Hoo said his company has been in contact with Mr Kee’s family, but added that there is only so much the small firm, which has just over 20 workers, can do. “We have filed for a claim with the insurance company but it is still pending. Even though he was with us for only about three weeks, he was still my worker and I will try to do what I can for the family after this,” he said. Foreigners like Mr Kee can also turn to voluntary welfare organisations for help.
Transient Workers Count Too offers funding for urgent medical and surgical treatments for foreign workers. The largest amount provided for medical purposes so far was about $20,000, said its president Russell Heng. The Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics provides help such as free legal advice, shelter and short-term financial aid for foreign workers here. Its executive director Jolovan Wham said the organisation is trying to get in touch with Mr Kee to see if it can extend its services to him. Since an interview with the family was published last week, donations from the public have come in. Mr Kee’s brother-in-law, who wants to be known only as Mr Yau, said that about eight people have contacted him and the family has received more than $3,000 so far. Members of the public have also dropped by with gifts such as creams for healing burn scars and to offer kind words to Mr Kee. Electronics trader Axl Ang, 35, was moved by the family’s plight after reading the story. He put up a post on social networking site Facebook asking for donations. He has collected about $1,100 since last Wednesday. “I have friends who are of the same profile – young Malaysians working in Singapore – so I know life is hard for them here. After reading about his plight, I felt compelled to help,” he said. Mr Yau said that a welfare organisation and the High Commission of Malaysia have contacted the family to offer help as well.
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