The Bone Marrow Donor Programme Extendshpc Procurement Subsidy Scheme And Introduces New Patient Sub

By Author: Bone Marrow Donor Programme
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The Bone Marrow Donor Programme (BMDP) takes a step further in its commitment to provide a sustainable financial support for patients. With effect from 1 January 2020, the BMDP is extending the Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPC) Procurement Subsidy Scheme and introducing a new Patient Subsidy Fund for Matched Unrelated Transplant Patients.

Extension of HPC Procurement Subsidy Scheme
Foreign spouses of Singaporeans or Permanent Residents seeking treatment in Singapore can now benefit from the HPC Procurement Subsidy Scheme.

This follows a review conducted on the scheme, which was first introduced in January 2019 to provide financial assistance to patients undergoing a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. 41 patients have since benefitted with close to SGD 1 million disbursed by the BMDP.

The HPC Procurement Subsidy Scheme comprises of three tiers:
• Tier 1 (T1): HPC Procurement Subsidy – A one lump sum subsidy to offset the HPC procurement cost.

• Tier 2 (T2): Additional HPC Procurement Subsidy –In addition to T1 subsidy, patients may be eligible to apply for T2 subsidy, which ...
... subsidises up to 65% of the total HPC product cost. The T2 subsidy quantum is in accordance to the patients’ Ward Class, i.e. the same basis that governs patient subsidies in public hospitals in Singapore.

• Tier 3 (T3): Supplementary HPC Procurement Subsidy – This option is for needy patients staying in subsidised wards (B2 and below) and can cover up to 100% of HPC product cost, subject to recommendation put forth by an accredited Medical Social Worker (MSW) and the BMDP’s approval.

With the extension of the HPC Procurement Subsidy Scheme, foreign spouses of Singaporeans or Permanent Residents will now be eligible to apply for Tier 2 Subsidy, subject to the patient’s eligibility and recommendation from the hospital’s MSW.

Mr Tan, a beneficiary of the HPC Procurement Subsidy Scheme, says, “Thanks to BMDP's HPC Subsidy Scheme, it helped to alleviate my parents' financial burden by a huge amount. Thank you very much, BMDP, for giving me a new life through this scheme!”

New Patient Subsidy Fund
The new Patient Subsidy Fund supports costs associated with Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD) Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants as well as post-transplant expenses for patients. The Patient Subsidy Fund will be part of a range of subsidy schemes aimed to alleviate patients’ treatment costs and support them through post-transplant expenditures. Application is to be made through an accredited Medical Social Worker.

It will take the form of:

a. Transplant-Related Cost Subsidy
Patients who are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents, holding the CHAS card (Orange or Blue) or under a MediFund case, may be funded for their transplant-related cost (e.g. ward charges, transplant procedures, medications etc) at public hospitals. The subsidy will cover up to 50% of the total cost, subject to a cap of SGD 50,000 per patient.

This subsidy is introduced in view of the cost of transplantation and its associated cost that make up a significant part of a patient’s bill, which can go in excess of SGD 100,000 for patients with complications.

b. Post-Transplant Allowances
Patients who are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents, holding the CHAS card (Orange or Blue) or under a MediFund case, may be given SGD 500 per month allowance for up to 12 months from the date of their transplant to support their post-transplant expenditures.

The provision of allowance is introduced in view of the patients’ long recovery process and medical follow-ups following their transplant. For the first few months, patients may be required to have up to three follow-up appointments per week with the medical team to monitor the patient’s condition. On average, the journey to recovery before a patient can integrate back into the workforce may take up to 12 months. The allowance will cease when the patient commences employment or if the patient passes on.

Says Mr Charles Loh, Chief Executive Officer of the BMDP, “We are glad that we are able to introduce these financial schemes to support the patients. Many thanks to our financial supporters whose generous donations allow us to do so. We will continue to think of more ways to support our patients and their care-givers, including providing support services and other ways of practical help.”