IMH maintains the WH Endowment Fund to raise public donations. The purpose of the Fund is stated as providing welfare and medical care for needy patients.
In explaining the need for public support, the IMH website states: “Although there is the Medifund, there are some patients from the lower income group who do not qualify because of the stringent criteria”. Examples are given of the programmes supported by public donations. For instance, IMH highlights that mental patients need not only medicine but also psychotherapy sessions. However, noted the hospital: “Some patients do not seek treatment because they cannot afford to pay for this service”.
It is worrying that the IMH needs to ask the public to donate money directly to provide essential treatment to its patients. Should the Medifund criteria be further relaxed for mental health services?
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 9 Feb 2009.)
