Singapore Healthcare System: Reforms, Challenges, and Learnings

This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of the Singapore healthcare system, exploring its current structure and recent reforms. It delves into key aspects such as service delivery, financing mechanisms (including Medishield Life and CHAS), health workforce composition, and the quality of care provided. The essay highlights the role of government in regulating and financing the healthcare system, emphasizing its commitment to providing affordable and high-quality medical services. It also examines the legal framework governing healthcare, including the PHMCA and MOH, and how these contribute to maintaining quality standards. Furthermore, the essay addresses the system's achievements in promoting health equality, particularly in caring for senior citizens, and discusses the challenges faced by the system. Finally, it provides a comparative analysis, focusing on what Australia can learn from the Singaporean model, offering valuable insights for healthcare policy and management.

Health system and health reforms of Singapore

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Current health care system of Singapore...................................................................................3
The major key factors of healthcare system of Singapore.....................................................4
Healthcare service delivery system....................................................................................4
Financing of healthcare system of Singapore....................................................................4
Health workforce of Singapore healthcare system.............................................................5
Quality of healthcare system of Singapore........................................................................5
Laws and Acts related to healthcare system of Singapore.................................................6
Quality of Healthcare system of Singapore.......................................................................6
Promoting for achieving health equality by Singapore healthcare system........................7
Excellent care of senior people..........................................................................................7
Leadership and governance related to health care system of Singapore............................7
Essential medical services and technology used by healthcare system of Singapore........8
Challenges faced by healthcare system of Singapore........................................................8
Major factors which Australia can learn by the experience of Singapore health care system...9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
In this essay, an analysis will be done over the current health care system and reforms of
Singapore. The innovation in current health system of Singapore will be described. The major
key health components of health system like service delivery, health workforce, health
information system, leadership governance, essential medical products and technologies will
be described. Reflection on the measures of innovations on the efficiency will also be
highlighted.
The focus is also provided over the high quality medical services provided by the government
of Singapore and its ability to cope up with the various diseases. The condition of health care
facilities are analysed in order to assess the capabilities of the Singapore health care system.
In the end, the focus will be given over the learning of Australia from the above analysis. A
comparative analysis has been done over the health care system of Singapore and health care
system of Australia.
Current health care system of Singapore
The health care system of Singapore is majorly governed by the government of the country.
However a significant number of private healthcare sectors are also working inside the
country. Government is promoting the healthcare sectors by providing finance to it by using
subsidy and other methods.
Singapore health care system is known to be World’s finest health care system. In 2014,
Bloomberg ranked first the Singapore health care system. In 2017 Singapore was also known
as healthiest Asian country by Bloomberg. The Singapore health care system is made to
ensure about receiving every essential healthcare and medical facility to the people of the
country with good quality and within minimum time duration. The government of the country
is also focussing over the cost effectiveness of the medical services for the wellbeing of the
people of the country (global, 2020).
Health care system of Singapore is known as one of the most efficient system of the world. It
majorly included a large number of governmental organisations but a significant number of
private organisations also running inside the country. According to a research of 2019, the
people of Singapore have the longest life expectancy that is 84.8 years (Singapore, 2020).

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Because of all these qualities, the Singapore health care system is known as the world’s finest
health care system. The country is also able to manage the treatment of detrimental diseases
and also able to cope up with the public problems related to health (Singapore, 2020).
The major key factors of healthcare system of Singapore
Healthcare service delivery system
The Singapore healthcare system is known for very quick service delivery so that the patients
and the people do not have to wait for essential and basic medical health care services.
However, the healthcare services are running at a satisfactory speed in Singapore but still the
government is planning for developing RHS that is integrated rural health services (Meng-
Kin, 2020).
The main objective of developing RHS is to ensure about having acute hospitals, community
hospitals, nursing homes and health care providers in each and every regions inside the
country. In most of the regions care providers are working with all their efforts for providing
better and quick services to the public of the country (Meng-Kin, 2020).
AIC (Agency for integrated care)
This agency is dedicated to provide short and long term care services including discharge
planning of the patients. This agency is also providing health education for the patients so
that they will be able to gain a sound health conditions. It also focuses on boosting local
healthcare services in order to improve the healthcare system in the country (Saxena, 2009).
Financing of healthcare system of Singapore
The healthcare system of Singapore used a mixed financing system. It includes nationalised
life insurance schemes. It also includes deductions from compulsory savings plan and CPF
(Central provident fund). These schemes are only for working people of Singapore or the
people who have permanent residency in Singapore. These services help in providing
financial support in receiving health care services (Lim, 2020).
The government of Singapore also provide subsidies to the various services of healthcare to
make them affordable like:

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 Medishield life: It is related to the expansions in insurance coverage especially to the
older people. Medical insurance covers most of the people of the country by providing
them financial securities in case of emergency.
 CHAS (Community health assistant scheme) : It is related to providing subsidy for
primary care health facilities (Lim, 2020). This scheme also helps the people of
various communities in attaining sound health conditions.
According to a research, the government of Singapore spends only 5% of their GDP over
healthcare facilities. They spend only half of the money as compare to UK and one third of
the money as compare to USA over the healthcare sectors (Lim, 2020). The government of
Singapore is very famous in providing all necessary health care services at affordable cost
because all government hospitals of the country are also providing very good quality health
care services.
Health workforce of Singapore healthcare system
There are a sufficient number of doctors; nurses and specialist are available to deal with the
people of the country by providing effective healthcare services to them (Singapore, 2020).
The large number of workforce ensures about having efficient, timely and affordable medical
facilities throughout the country. All hospitals, medical centres, community health centres,
clinics, nursing homes and clinical laboratories all are required to maintain a sufficient
number of healthcare professionals for the proper running of the services of the healthcare
system of the country (Saxena, 2009).
Quality of healthcare system of Singapore
The healthcare system of the country is providing very good and timely services of medical.
The country is able to provide the treatment of various diseases and also providing excellent
home care facilities to those people who are at the end stage of their life. The country is not
only providing excellent medical and clinical facilities but also providing excellent
preventive strategies to fight with life taking diseases (Singapore, 2020).
Usually the people of the country are themselves for primary medical care services but while
dealing with emergency illness the government are providing subsidies. The Singapore
healthcare system is famous for giving excellent care in minimum cost. However, the cost is
different for the people of other countries. In the country eighty percent of the hospitals are

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public. By providing excellent services, Singapore established a benchmark for the other
countries in the field of healthcare services (Singapore, 2020).
Laws and Acts related to healthcare system of Singapore
The government of Singapore made sufficient laws and Acts by which the country ensures
about getting good standards of health care services in each and every sector of health care.
Some of the Acts related to quality standard of healthcare system are as follows:
PHMCA’s (Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act)
This Act abides the health care organisation in maintaining quality of healthcare facilities in
their organisations. This Act controls the entire health care organisation by its rules and
regulations. This Act is also responsible for providing licence to health care professionals by
enduring about their academic and professional skills. It abides all the organisation of health
care sectors by frequent inspection to check and control the quality of the services provided
to the public of the country (HS Khoo, 2014).
MOHS (Ministry of health Singapore)
The Ministry of health ensures about the regular and proper functioning of healthcare system
in Singapore. MOH also promotes the different types of health programs that are designed to
maintain the wellbeing of the health of the public of the country. It also focuses on
developing a high standard of living, hygiene and clean water for the better health conditions
of the people (Singapore, 2020).
Overall, it can be said that MOH controls all the major determinants of living and eating
conditions which may have directly or indirectly impact over the health of the people of the
country. It is constantly working for shaping the future of the healthcare system of the
country by promoting the innovative schemes and new techniques to reform the healthcare
sector of the country (Singapore, 2020).
Quality of Healthcare system of Singapore
The Singapore healthcare system is achieved efficiency in delivering a good quality of
healthcare services throughout the country. By using latest techniques and good quality
equipments, the country is able to handle the treatment of different types of diseases like
cancer, heart diseases and many other harmful diseases (Singapore, 2020).

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By developing proper sanitation facilities at public places, the country is able to manage the
infectious diseases. Proper vaccination facilities are provided by the health care system of
Singapore for maintaining the public health of the people of the country. Clean water and
nutritious food and basic medication facilities are available in each and every place of the
country (Sharon Chen, 2020).
Promoting for achieving health equality by Singapore healthcare system
Health conditions are equal in almost all the parts of the country. People having different
level of education or different level of economic conditions are also receiving health care
benefits at an affordable cost. The country is able to manage the health disparities by
achieving latest technological innovations (health, 2020).
Excellent care of senior people
The healthcare system of Singapore is famous for providing excellent health care services to
the older people of the country by providing excellent medical and palliative services. The
high quality of care services makes the Singapore healthcare system very famous throughout
the world (Brookings, 2020).
The healthcare system of the country is continuously updating itself by promoting the
innovations in the field of medical. The country is strictly focuses over the research over the
field of medical and diseases and by which the country is able to establish a sound healthcare
system (SHX Ng, 2020).
Leadership and governance related to health care system of Singapore
The government of Singapore plan and continue the health care system of the country by
promoting innovations and new techniques. It specially focuses over affordable and good
quality health care services. The government of the country specially take care of needy
person especially on the bases of their financial condition. Older people, Children and women
are also taken care by the various health schemes provided by the government of Singapore
(KB Tan, 2019).
The country offers a wide variety of specialist services related to harmful diseases like
cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diseases related to nervous system and many other critical
diseases. Many private and public health care organisations offer twenty four multiply by

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seven hours medical and healthcare services for the wellbeing of the patients and public of
the country (F Pearce, 2019).
Government of Singapore not only focuses over physical health of the patients of the country
but also it focuses over the mental health of the people of the country by offering social
support and long term care of the patients. The government is very much concern for the
health of older population of the country (B Yuen, 2020).
Various regulatory authorities of the health care system of Singapore
 Singapore medical council
 Singapore dental council
 Singapore nursing board
 Singapore pharmacy council
 Health science authority
 Allied health professionals counselling
 MOH holdings Pvt. ltd.
These regularities authorities help the Singapore in operating health care system efficiently
by maintaining good quality of services (Chang Liu, 2020).
Essential medical services and technology used by healthcare system of Singapore
Essential medical services and technology are promoted by the government of the Singapore
in controlling the various threatening and life taking diseases inside the country. New
technologies are helpful in dealing with the patients of long term distance (Saunders, 2017).
Various health related programs like SHA (Smart Health Assist) Programme and various tele
health programs make the treatment available very conveniently by using latest technological
features. Patients with chronic and critical diseases are able to deal with more efficiently by
using latest technological features (Singapore, 2020).
Challenges faced by healthcare system of Singapore
Dealing and maintaining a large older population is one of the biggest challenges which are
facing by the government of Singapore. Limited fund provided by the government is also
creating hurdles in managing costly products of healthcare. New technologies which are
using in providing effective medical services are very costly and making the medical

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facilities cost effective is also very difficult for the government of the country (Chiang Yin
WONG, 2020).
Controlling over the communicable diseases is very difficult for the country because these
diseases can easily spread from one people to another (Luk, 2018).
Government is working on following programme for maintaining and controlling the
diseases:
 CDMP (Chronic disease management programme)
 Primary care partnership programme
 Primary care partnership schemes (Chiang Yin WONG, 2020).
Major factors which Australia can learn by the experience of Singapore health care
system
Singapore health care system is performing very well by maintaining proper and sound
conditions of public health of the country. The government of Australia is also working with
all its efforts but still the country is lacking behind in some mandatory areas of health.
Managing the health equalities among the various population of Australia is very challenging
task for the country (HS Khoo, 2014).
Singapore is not spending a lot on health services but still able to manage the quality of
health care services. This is the most important factor which the Australian government
should learn. Despite of not getting sufficient fund from the government, Singapore health
care system is handling a large volume of older population with a decent life expectancy rate
(Brookings, 2020).
However, in hospital bed facilities Australia is far better than Singapore. According to a
research there are 7.4 beds over 1000 people in Australia whereas only 2.9 beds are available
in Singapore over 1000 people. This statistics represents that the government of Australia is
spending a lot for obtaining better health conditions, whereas Singapore’s health system is
performing well even with a very small investment (master, 2020).
The major costs of health care services are bear by the citizen of the Singapore whereas the
major cost and expenditure over the health care services is bear by the government of
Australia (Lim, 2013). The people having sound financial background should learn this

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speciality of health care system of Singapore where the major expenses are handled by the
public not from the government and this is the main reason by which the healthcare system of
Singapore is performing very well even with a very little financing help from the government
(Y Bai, 2012).
However, health care system of Australia is also working very hard to manage the health
problems of the people of the country but still a lot of factors could have been improved.
Health disparities are a major problem of the Australian healthcare system. Australian
government should improve the access of its healthcare services in all demographic areas of
the country. The cost of healthcare facilities should also be improved by taking help of the
public. New techniques and innovations should be promoted in order to make the health
services efficient and capable in dealing with critical diseases (Siow, 2020).
The government of Singapore is also taking help of latest technologies to provide quick and
efficient health care services to the public. Government is trying to cover maximum people in
medical insurance so that they can receive the health care services on time. Singapore health
care system not only helps the patients of the country by providing a good quality of
treatment and wide range of healthcare services but also it focuses on removing the health
inequalities from the country (Siow, 2020).
Conclusion
On the bases of above analysis, it can be said that Singapore health care system is working
very well and focussing on providing better quality of medical services for maintaining a
sound health conditions in the public. Singapore’s government is developing many health
programs to deal with the various diseases which are damaging the health of the people of the
country. It can also be said that the government of the country is very much aware and alert
in maintaining a sound health conditions through- out the country and is highly focused over
the equality of health care services.
On the bases of the comparison of health care system of Singapore and Australia, it can be
said that Australian healthcare system should improve by maintaining the cost of medical
services and it should focus on eliminating the health disparities from the country. The
medical services should be provided with a good quality and within a wide range so that
people can receive the benefits of all healthcare facilities.

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