Medifund reached more needy and elderly patients in the 2011 fiscal year

The government's endowment fund to help needy Singaporeans with medical expenses, reached more needy and elderly patients- with over $90 million of aid disbursed in FY2011. 

That's 16 per cent higher than the amount of FY2010. 

Of this amount, about $76 million went to patients in the acute sector. 

The remaining $15 million was for those in the Intermediate and Long-Term Care sector. 

Needy elderly patients received $28 million of Medifund assistance, or 20 per cent more, compared with the previous fiscal year. 

The number of successful applications for Medifund was also higher in FY2011 - by 8 per cent, at 518,000. 

Medifund was set up in 1993 to help Singapore Citizens who can't afford their medical bills despite government subsidies. 

Of the successful Medifund applications, more than 93 per cent received full assistance. 

On average, the amount of assistance given was $1,295 per inpatient episode and $103 per outpatient episode.