Reconstitution of Medical Endowment Fund
Open ↗3.—(1) For the purposes of this Part, the Medical Endowment Fund or Medifund continues and is reconstituted in accordance with this Act.
(2) There must be paid into the Medifund —(a)
all capital moneys as are appropriated from time to time from the Consolidated Fund and authorised to be paid into the Medifund by this Act or any other written law;
(b)
gifts or bequests given or made for the purposes of Medifund; and
(c)
the net income from investments of capital moneys in the Medifund.
(3) The Minister is responsible for the administration of the Medifund, and all moneys belonging to the Medifund may be deposited in any bank and invested in any investment authorised under the Financial Procedure Act 1966.
(4) The Medifund must be regarded as a Government fund and as comprising public moneys for the purposes of any written law.
Capital moneys of Medifund
Open ↗4.—(1) For the purposes of this Part, the Minister for Finance may, from time to time, pay into the Medifund such sums of capital money as the Minister may determine out of moneys to be provided by Parliament.
(2) Despite the terms of any gift or bequest, all gifts and bequests given or made for the purposes of the Medifund must be paid into the Medifund as capital moneys.
(3) The capital moneys of the Medifund must not be used for any purpose other than for investment.
(4) Where at any time there is a permanent diminution of the capital moneys of the Medifund, the Minister must, before paying out the income of the Medifund, make good the diminution from that income.
Application of income of Medifund
Open ↗5. The income of the Medifund may be paid out and applied for all or any of the following purposes only:(a)
for the provision of grants to Medifund committees to be applied for the purpose of defraying in whole or in part the hospital charges, fees and other expenses incurred by patients of approved institutions who are unable to pay those charges, fees or other expenses and are approved by the relevant Medifund committee;
(b)
for other purposes authorised under this Act to be paid out from the Medifund or that may be prescribed.
Advisory Council
Open ↗6.—(1) For the purpose of advising the Minister as to the application of the income of the Medifund, an Advisory Council is established, comprising members appointed by the Minister.
(2) The Minister must appoint one of the members as chairperson.
(3) The Schedule has effect with respect to the Council.
Functions of Council and directions by Minister
Open ↗7.—(1) The Council may, from time to time, make recommendations to the Minister on all matters relating to the application of the income of the Medifund.
(2) The Minister may, on the recommendations of the Council, issue to any Medifund committee directives or guidelines on the approval of applications from eligible patients and on the administration of the Medifund Account of that committee.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
