Singapore population kept in shrewd health

System of subsidies and co-payment earns world’s envy

SINGAPORE // There is an old saying among locals that it is better to die than fall sick in Singapore.

That adage has become less relevant after the development of a healthcare system that is the envy of much of the world, and which offers lessons to policymakers within and outside Asia.

A mixture of government subsidies and patient co-payment, it has lifted Singapore’s healthcare rating to the top two in major global rankings.

It has also boosted the state’s life expectancy to one of the world’s highest, while infant mortality is among the lowest.

All this for government spend- ing of only 4.9 per cent of gross domestic product.

“In Singapore, there’s the assurance that no one will drop out or will be deprived of health care when they absolutely need it,” says Loh Shu Ching, chief executive of community hospital Ren Ci.

The system is three-pronged: a mix of mandatory savings deducted from wages for future needs; a basic health insurance plan against major hospital bills; and a safety net for those who still struggle to pay bills.

With this system in place, health professionals believe the state can face future challenges with confidence that is lacking in most other countries.

“We could double or even triple healthcare spending and then we’ll only look like the rest of the developing world,” said Dr Jeremy Lim, a Singapore- based partner at global consultancy Oliver Wyman.