Singapore’s Healthcare System

Singapore’s healthcare system has evolved into an efficient and effective system whereby an array of services is widely available for its citizens. Singapore’s healthcare system has significantly improved in terms of its management and coordination. For example, with the use of technology, NEHR (National Electronic Health Room) a system which was rolled out in 2011, allows healthcare professionals to have access to patient’s medical history which is used by both government and private hospitals in Singapore. This allows patients to receive the necessary personalised and customized care that they need. Working hand in hand is HealthHub. HealthHub is a portal which allows patients to have easy access to their medical records, health-related content, up-coming appointments and e-services. This will enforce patients to be independent on their own health and not rely on the government thus encouraging self-reliance. Also, with the implementation of Health Hub, Singapore’s healthcare system can now easily coordinate patients with the necessary healthcare professionals, hence improving the performance of the system.

Singapore’s healthcare system has also improved in terms of upgrading the different types of financing schemes. For example, in 2015, Medishield Life replaced Medshield. This is a huge step taken by the Singapore government as Medishield Life which is an insurance, will cater to all Singaporeans and PRs and will ensure protection for life. Therefore, patients are protected from large medical bills and thus they can afford subsidised treatments. Medishield Life aids patients in terms of risk-pooling. This is because the high-risk and low-risk groups are put together. This is to help one another pull the risk together; this means the low-risk group to help the high-risk group get the necessary help needed. Therefore, this allows the population to help one another lessen the financial burden.

In addition to Medisheild Life, the government introduced a scheme called CHAS; Community Health Assist Scheme for Singaporeans who belong to the lower and middle income to receive subsidies for medical and dental services at GP clinics. This is to tackle the overcrowding issues in polyclinics and by implementing CHAS, it will greatly reduce the workload in polyclinics for healthcare professionals and there will be a balance in terms of patients visiting GP clinics and polyclinics. There will be an equal distribution of patients to doctors hence, improving the efficiency of the healthcare system. Lastly, MOH has also rolled out incentives as so to build the manpower in the healthcare industry. Such incentives are like increasing the pay of healthcare professionals and increasing the local intake of healthcare professionals. This is to make sure that the healthcare system has the required manpower to provide the services needed for the patients.

In conclusion, Singapore’s healthcare system has improved over the years with the use of technology, the implementation of new financing schemes so as to meet the needs of the current society and lastly building the manpower of the healthcare industry. All of these help Singapore in providing quality services to meet the demands of the patients.