29 September 2012
Editor, Forum Page
Straits Times
Mr. Joshua Seet said that medical fee guidelines may lead to higher prices for everyone
as it will encourage practitioners to match the recommended guidelines (ST 19 Sep).
I hold a different opinion. The fee guidelines will be helpful to consumers and will also most likely
lead to lower prices.
I have been approached on several occasions by consumers on how much they should pay in
legal fees to write a will or obtain probate for an estate. The Law
Society does provide in its website some lawyers that provide the service, but they are not
able to give the fee guideline. The consumer need to call several lawyers just to get an
indication of the fees.
I have also experienced difficulty in getting the fee to notarize a contract with an overseas party.
My staff had to spend more than two hours just to get the information. A fee guideline would
have been helpful.
I am sure that most patients, being consumers, would welcome the existence of a fee guideline
for medical treatment as well.
The publication of the fee guidelines will encourage competition and lower prices. Some
new practices would tell their clients that they are charging lower fees, compared to the guidelines,
because they are newly established or have lower cost of operation. Consumers who
are cost conscious may opt for their services.
If the fee guideline had been published, some reputable practitioners may charge above the
guidelines. Consumers who accept these fees willingly do not have cause to complain
that they have been misled.
I urge the Competition Commission to review its stance on fee guidelines that are set
voluntarily by professional associations. They serve not only the interest of their professional
members, but the interest of consumers as well.
Tan Kin Lian
President
Financial Services Consumer Assocation
www.fisca.sg
