“When I was 51 years old, I had to give up my job as a coffee shop assistant as diabetes had caused my eyesight to worsen. My left eye was already completely blind while my right eye had limited vision. I didn’t know how I was going to pay for the kidney dialysis I needed to save my life, but I was even more worried about how my wife and two school-going children, aged 16 and eight, were going to survive without me.
Financially, we were in dire straits – there were the regular payments due on our public housing flat, utility bills and other expenses. My wife had to take over my job to help support the family and this brought in less than S$700 a month. The monthly housing loan itself was S$650 and we had to pay this in cash. We had to seek various schemes for deferred payments and waivers.
As a permanent resident, I did not qualify for Medifund assistance as that is only available to Singaporeans. I had also been turned down by various charitable organisations for financial assistance as my condition was chronic and required long-term treatment.
My situation looked bleak when the NUH Patientcare Charity Fund first stepped into the picture. The Fund initially helped cover the costs of basic treatment and medication. When my condition took a turn for the worse, I had to go on dialysis as high blood pressure and diabetes had damaged my kidneys. The support from the Fund was increased to cover the additional treatments that I needed. Without this, I would not have been able to start and continue with my dialysis treatment. That was four years ago.
Today, I receive assistance from other sources but the support from the Fund went a long way to lessen both the financial and emotional burden on me and my family. Without the help of this Fund, my family would be heavily in debt.
I look forward to the day when my children finish school and are able to work so that the family can be financially self-sufficient again.”
Mr Tan, a kidney dialysis patient
Name has been changed for patient confidentiality |
