why medisave can't be used for all screening tests

a response to mr arthur lim's letter from the ministry of health in today's st forum:

Mar 17, 2011
Why Medisave can't be used for all screening tests

MR ARTHUR Lim suggested that we allow use of Medisave to cover all cancer screening and tests to detect heart disease ('Allow use of Medisave for more screening tests'; Monday).

There are many such tests, and their effectiveness is not uniform. The Academy of Medicine Singapore recently made a thorough study and recommended the relevant tests for most people. Readers should refer to its report.

Not all cancer screening tests and tests for heart disease are recommended.

Our Medisave policy is based on its recommendations.

Julie Sim (Ms)
Deputy Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health

my comments:

with reference to mr arthur lim's call to cover all cancer screening and tests to detect heart disease, please allow me to cite our health minister, mr khaw boon wan:

"The question is what kind of health screening? There is a wide range of health screening tests, not all are fully justified or necessary. More screening is not necessarily better. :Some accrue benefits more to the provider than the consumer. A mindless liberalization of Medisave for health screening may not improve health outcomes, but instead prematurely deplete Medisave balances."