Are H1N1-infected passengers required to pay when taking cabs? 

One passenger said no and refused to pay until the cab driver threatened to call the police, according to a Wanbao report.

An SMRT cabby told Wanbao he picked up the passenger at the taxi stand of KK Women's and Children's Hospital on Jun 27, 1.30pm. 

The passenger, who looked to be in his 20s, wanted to go to Punggol Field.

Upon reaching his destination, the passenger suddenly claimed he was a H1N1 patient and because of that, the hospital (KK Hospital) will settle his cab fare.

Mr Guo said of his male passenger, "He looked fine and wasn't wearing a face mask."

"On the way to Punggol, he also didn't cough or sneeze."

But upon reaching the destination, Block 175B, Punggol Field, the passenger whipped out a "hospital form".

Mr Guo told Wanbao, "The passenger claimed KK Hospital and SMRT had agreed that the hospital will foot the cab charges if H1N1 patients board their taxis."

"All I had to do was to fill in the form with my personal particulars."

Mr Guo immediately called the SMRT office as he had never heard of such an arrangement. His colleague subsequently told him no such arrangement existed.

Thinking that the passenger was out to get a free ride, Mr Guo locked his taxi's doors and threatened to call the police unless the passenger paid up.

The passenger immediately called his father on his handphone to come down and help pay for the cab fare.

The father came down and paid for the fare but when Mr Guo was about to drive away, the father suddenly warned him to be careful because the boy was infected with H1N1.

Mr Guo was frightened and as a precaution, he quarantined himself at home for a week.

Mr Guo told Wanbao he wished for the father and son to step forward and clarify whether the son had H1N1 because he has close relatives who are staying with him.

The licence plate number of the SMRT taxi is SHC4455J.

KK Hospital responds

When contacted, KK Hospital's spokesman said that only H1N1 patients who have recovered will be discharged. It is unlikely that these patients will spread the H1N1 virus if they have no signs of coughing or sneezing or if they are coughing or sneezing lightly.

Also, due to the confidentiality of patient's records, they cannot ascertain whether the passenger was a patient from their hospital.

The hospital spokesman explained that they have an agreement with MaxiCab to send H1N1 patients home. The patients can claim the expenses from the hospital.

The claims of those H1N1 patients who are in a hurry and choose to take another cab will be treated on a case-by-case basis.

With regard to Mr Guo's case, the hospital said they will reimburse him for the passenger's cab fare.