SINGAPORE, Feb 9 — Patients infected with Covid-19 will be required to pay for related testing and treatment from April 1 as subsidies and financial support related to the pandemic will be scaled down, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Feb 9).

However, vaccinations and oral antivirals will remain fully subsidised for certain clinically eligible patients until further notice.

MOH said in a statement that as Singapore moves to treating Covid-19 as an endemic disease, financing support for Covid-19 will be realigned to that of other acute illnesses.

Regardless of their vaccination status, all patients who visit a hospital or a Covid-19 treatment facility for the coronavirus infection will no longer be accorded 100 per cent subsidy.

Other regular healthcare safety nets, such as Government subsidies, MediShield Life and MediSave, will still apply to citizens and permanent residents to defray their healthcare expenses.

"We wish to assure lower-income Singaporeans that financial assistance will be available to ensure that healthcare cost remains affordable,” MOH said.

Community isolation facilities will also no longer be required for Covid-19, but the authorities will keep some of such facilities open for patients who would like to self-isolate for valid reasons.

But all occupants will be charged for their stay, and citizens as well as permanent residents will not be able to tap on subsidies, MediShield Life or MediSave to pay for their bills as these facilities are not medical facilities.

Patients will also be required to pay for Covid-19 testing at polyclinics and general physician clinics, subject to prevailing subsidies. — TODAY