Private Healthcare in Singapore

Private healthcare in Singapore has come a long way from its humble beginnings about 40 years ago. Weaned from colonial and military hospitals, governance and funding has created an expansive network of world-class healthcare providers with some of the best facilities around.

This was down to necessity – as the economy demanded that Singapore position herself as a location for enterprise and investment. Drawing foreign talent and foreign investments meant that there had to be a readily available and advanced infrastructure that could cater to the basic and advanced medical demands.

Local private hospitals now are part of a stable of excellent clinics and hospitals with big names. Camden Medical, Parkway Health and Gleneagles are just some of the proponents of private healthcare in Singapore. What’s more, there is a wide range of services to choose from and since a decade ago, there have been more and more specialist private clinics to choose from.

What is the difference between public and private healthcare? Well before we establish anything, it must be understood that the services that they provide are essentially similar, the level of technology should relatively be on par and governance from the Ministry of Health applies to all.

Public healthcare is subsidised in Singapore and thus it is often leveraged by the general public and those with no external medical insurance other than standard coverage given by the government.

Private healthcare has benefits especially for those who have diseases which are more attention diseases. A good example is neural diseases or even disorders within their physiological and musculature system. While not enforced, going ‘private’ is highly recommended because one will get more attention and doctor focus than those who have to deal with hundreds of patients a month. This is one of the biggest drawing factors that attract many patients to going private in Singapore. From areas of gynaecology, dentistry, physical therapy as well as every sort of condition available – private healthcare in Singapore is complete and comprehensive.

Just recently, private healthcare in Singapore upped the ante a tad by offering new areas of plastic surgery. Though considered cosmetic, these are still within the umbrella of healthcare in Singapore. Innovation and adaptation to the modern landscape of global healthcare – these are the maxims that private healthcare in Singapore is measuring themselves against.

For those who worry about governance and standards – all private healthcare doctors and specialists have to go through the same rigor of quality standards set down by the Ministry’s. Private healthcare in Singapore is modelled after an American business framework – with ethics and standards weighed against profits and turn around.

Private healthcare in Singapore is a business, and though some may question such a commercial nature of healthcare, some argue that there is no better way to ensure top service and satisfaction when currency comes into the equation.

The American business model demands top quality and at the same time comes with a price. Yes it is more expensive, but for many people in Singapore, it is a good way to beat the queues and get more attention for their ailment.