Singapore is making the unvaccinated pay for their Covid-19 medical expenses: Should South Africa do the same?

By Geetesh Solanki, Judith Cornell, Reno Morar and Vishal Brijlal
23 Nov 2021
The Singapore government has to date covered the full costs of medical treatment of Covid-19 patients, in order "to avoid financial considerations adding to public uncertainty and concern when Covid-19 was an emergent and unfamiliar disease".
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Source: Pixabay

However, the government has announced that from 8 December 2021 those who are “unvaccinated by choice” will have to start paying for their own Covid-19 treatment on the grounds that “unvaccinated persons make up a sizeable majority of those who require intensive inpatient care, and disproportionately contribute to the strain on our healthcare resources.”

Why should it be considered for South Africa?

While Covid-19 infection rates in South Africa are currently low, Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla has warned of a fourth wave starting in December and urged people to take the vaccine, describing this as the only hope of long-term success in containing the Coronavirus. The Department of Health has set a target of vaccinating at least 70–90% of the adult population (18 and over) by December.

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