Singapore health system

By

•Dr Satish Tajne

•Dr Geetesh Shelar

•Dr Rohit Nair

•Dr Shekhar Gaddam

Introduction Singapore is a small country with a total land area of 710 square

kilometres.

Obtained independence from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic.

Singapore is characterized by a highly developed and successful free-

market economy.

It has a very open and corruption-free business environment.

The Singapore economy grew by 8% in 2009 and it is projected to

grow by 15% in 2010.

Per capita gross domestic product amounted to US$ 39,951 in 2008.

Literacy rate : 96.3%

THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE

Health Care Philosophy-

1. Aims to build up a healthy population through preventive health care programmes and

the promotion of healthy living.(Healthy family, healthy nation report 1991)

2. Responsibility to intervene in the health care sector where the market fails to keep health

care costs down

3. Personal responsibility for one’s health.

Emphasis on – a)Health education

b)Immunization

c)Health screening for early detection of diseases.

Ministry of Health-

Overall responsibility for the provision and regulation of health care services in

Singapore.

HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM

Singapore has a dual health care delivery system.

Primary health care-

80%provided by private practitioners

20% government polyclinics

Includes –

curative out-patient medical treatment

health screening

preventive health programmes for school children,

home nursing

day care and rehabilitation for the elderly

health education and promotion.

Hospital Care-

80% by public sector

20% by Private sector

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE

Health Indicators

The crude birth rate 9.9

per 1000 resident population.

The crude death rate 4.4

per 1000 resident population.

The total fertility rate per resident female 1.3

MMR 0

Under 5mortality Rate 3

% of Total Population

Chinese 74.2%

Malaysian 13.4%

Indian 9.2%

Others 3.2%

DemographyPopulation of Singapore = 4.9 millian (2009)

Burden of disease

Principal Causes of Death

TOP 5 CONDITIONS OF HOSPITALISATION

PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES

NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF BEDS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITAL

NUMBER OF BEDS PERCENTAGE(%)

PUBLIC HOSPITALS 9091 80.6

PRIVATE HOSPITALS 2185 19.4

TOTAL 11276 100

3 beds per thousand population ratio.Average length of stay is about 5.5 days in general hospital.

Occupancy rates - Public Hospital 84 %

Private hospital 65%

Human resources for health

Singapore's only Western-style Medical School, established in

1905 trains 150 doc/yr

Reason for growth in specialization -

Push FOR growth by forming

Committee for Postgraduate Medical Education in 1970

Up-gradation of hospitals with sophisticated technology.

Sending doctors to higher medical centers in world for training

Traditional medicine.

Traditional medicine (Chinese)- attends 12% of OPD

patients hence government appointed a committee in 1994

to review the practice of traditional Chinese medicine

(TCM) which came out with recommendation of

accreditation of TCM training programme.

Registration with the self regulatory body.

Establishment of a Chinese Proprietary Medicines as a

Listing Unit in the Ministry of Health.

Programmes Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) and

vaccinations (Oct 2006)

Health Promotion Programmes:

BreastScreen Singapore, Cervical Screening Singapore, Childhood

Injury Prevention Programme, Community Health Screening, Mental

Health Education Programme, National Myopia Prevention

Programme, Physical Activity programme, Mental Health Education

Programme, National Smoking Control Programme, Nutrition

Programme, Osteoporosis Education Programme, Workplace Health

Promotion Programme.

National AIDS Control Programme (since 1985)

National Childhood Immunization Programme (NCIP)

Singapore Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP) (1997)

Important Acts Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota)

On 6 January 2004, the Human Organ Transplant (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament which extending HOTA beyond kidney to include liver, heart and cornea.

Advance Medical Directive (AMD)-

It’s a legal document that one sign in advance to inform the doctor to not to use any life sustaining treatment to prolong the life in case of an event of one becoming terminally ill and unconscious or imminent death.

To ensure that terminal patients die with dignity and to cater to the medical demands of its ageing population the ministry is planning to increase the number of hospice beds by about 20% over the next five to seven years.

National Health Plan ‘83’Government was prompt enough to think about solving the problem before it

arrived which lead to National Health Plan 1983, detailing health

infrastructure planned for the next 20 yrs

Objectives of the NHP were

to secure a healthy, fit and productive population through active disease

prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles

to improve cost-efficiency in the health care system.

meet the growing demand of a rapidly aging population for increased health

care.

Under this plan, the Medisave scheme was introduced in 1984 to meet

rising medical expenditure. The Medisave account allows members to

withdraw funds from their accounts in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) to

pay for hospital services, within certain limits, of themselves and their

immediate family members.

Singapore Health system Financing

By-Dr.Gitesh H Shelar

HEALTH CARE FINANCING IN SINGAPORE

Prior to the reform in the 1980s medical services generally were provided free or at a nominal charge through public facilities which were financed through general taxation.

In 1981 Ministry of Health announced ‘a cradle to grave health system’ like those of British NHS.

Included two major changes such as

a)shifting of financial burden of health care from government to individual and employer.

b)Corporatization of Government Hospital.

HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM

Singapore has a dual health care delivery system.

Financing

Primary health care.

Hospital care

Long term care.

Dental services.

Pharmaceutical.

FINANCING HEALTH CARE SYSTEMBASICALLY THE HEALTH CARE IS FINANCED BY FOUR PAYERS-

The individual

The employer

The insurer

The government

Financing of healthcare is mainly divided in to

Public financing including Taxation and Medifund

Private financing including the government-administered schemes, Medisave and Medishield, private medical insurance and savings.

Public health financing-

Taxation-Personal income tax ranging from2% to 28% is levied on

residents of Singapore at progressive rates on the previous year’s income.

Companies are taxed on adjusted net profits less capital allowances. The

corporate income tax rate is 26%. In 1995, tax revenue amounted to S$19.6

billion.

Provides fund for subsidising and promoting health care services.

MediFund-

It’s a endowment fund set up by the government in April 1993.

Medifund started with an initial endowment of S$200 million from the government in 1993 which has increased to S$600 million in 1998.

Since its inception 99% of the applicants were given financial assistance.

Medisave Introduced in 1984 as an extension of CPF(1955) Medisave allows

Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into an account to meet future

personal or immediate family’s hospitalisation, day surgery or certain

outpatient expenses.

Under Medisave, between 6 and 8 per cent - according to age of every

member's CPF account, subject to a ceiling of Sin $16000.

From 1 March 2010 Singapore residents can use the medisave account to

pay for overseas hospitalisations.

Amount with drawn from Medisave accounts-

2008-SGD 590mn

2oo9-SGD 660mn.

For the year 2006, the salary ceiling for the Central Provident Fund

contribution is S$4,500/month.

Additional Medisave Contribution Scheme made by the employer as an

incentive to employee which is limited to S$1,500per employee/peryear.

For all self-employed persons who earn more than s$6,000 are required to

contribute.

Accumulated savings in a Medisave Account are subjected to a Medisave

Contribution Ceiling . The Medisave Contribution Ceiling for 2006 is

S$32,500.

Medisave Account savings that exceeds S$27,500 can only be withdrawn.

If the Medisave A/C Balance is lower than required amount (S$8,300)then

amount from other two sub-account is transfered

Starting from 1 March 2010 the Ministry Of Health announced that the

Singapore residents will be allowed to utilise National Medical saving

scheme or Medisave for overseas hospitalisation and day surgeries at

hospital in Malaysia.

This scheme has been initiated with two providers-

1. Health Management International (HMI)

2. Parkway Holdings

Boost to the Palliative care with the Health Ministry’s decision to liberalise

the use of Medisave for home palliative care in September 2009.

Some SGD500mn (US$347mn) is to be spent on elderly care, with a focus

on home care, rehabilitation and palliative services.

Marriage and Parenthood Schemes

Medisave Maternity Package provides for the delivery and

pre-delivery medical expenses of your first four children.

For normal delivery withdrawal upto SGD 2,100 for Non-

Medisave Maternity Package while for Medisave Maternity

package SGD 450 more will be alloted.

Claim only upto the mentioned amount will be provided for

maternity expenses.

Interim Disability Assistance Programme for

the Elderly(IDAPE)

Provides financial help to needy and disabled elderly Singaporeans, who are not eligible for ElderShield because of their age or pre-existing disabilities.

IDAPE provides with $100 or $150 a month, for a maximum period of 72 months.

Eligibility-

If one is unable to perform 3 or more of the 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs; washing, feeding, dressing, toileting, mobility and transferring).

If one is aged 70 and above as at 30 September 2002. If you are aged 40 to 69 years as at 30 September 2002, your disability must occur before 30 September 2002.

If one’s per capita monthly household income is less than $1000.

Payment schedule for IDAPE

Per capita monthly household

income *

Monthly payout

$700 and below $150

$701 - $1,000 $100

Above $1,000 Not eligible for IDAPE payout

Primary Care Partnership

To provide convenient and affordable healthcare for needy elderly and disabled Singaporeans, the Ministry of Health (MOH) started the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS).

In this scheme needy patients can receive subsidised treatment at General Practitioners (GPs) and dental clinics near their homes.

To provide common outpatient medical treatments and basic dental services for this group of patients

The scheme will also cover treatment for 3 chronic diseases: Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (High blood pressure) and Lipid Disorders (e.g. High cholesterol).

INTERMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM

CARE (ILTC) After the patients are well enough to be discharged from the hospital but due to their

medical condition may require further care and treatment at centres. Such care is provided through ILTC.

Refers to services such as

i. Community Hospitals

ii. Chronic Sick Facilities

iii. Nursing Homes

iv. Hospices

v. Day Rehabilitation Centres

vi. Home care services such as home nursing and home medical.

Realizing the fact that the cost of such care will be higher as they require care for longer period of time hence the government subsidizes such care to those who need it.

Health insurance plans

Health insurance plans approved by either the Central Provident Fund

Board or the government serve the function of pooling health care

resources which include-

(a) Medisave-approved health insurance schemes; and

(b) employer-sponsored schemes.

Medisave approved insurance schemes consists of MediShield,

Integrated MediShield (which includes IncomeShield) and ElderShield

MEDISHIELD Is a voluntary low-cost catastrophic medical insurance scheme

launched in 1990.

It covers hospitalization expenses for major or prolonged illness according to the extent of limit chosen.

Element deductible and co-insurance (20 per cent)present along with upper age limit of 70 years for participation.

At the end of 1995, Medishield covered 1.5 million lives or 87 per cent of eligible CPF members as well as a quarter million of their dependants.

In an Integrated Medishield Scheme additional benefits are coupled with the benefits by charging an additional fee paid to the insurance company by the consumer

In 2005, there were five health insurance companies in Singapore providing 15 integrated MediShield insurance products

ELDERSHIELD Is a severe disability insurance scheme for those who need

long-term care, especially during old age.

Provides a monthly cash payout to help pay out-of pocket expenses for the care of a severely disabled person.

Till 2007, the market was controlled by just two local providers –

1)Great Eastern Life Assurance

2)NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative

Aviva now is also present.

From September 2007, the disability insurance scheme was introduced in two tiers – Basic ElderShield and ElderShieldSupplements

Employer-sponsored schemes The Manpower Ministry announced in September 2007 that from early

2008 employers must provide insurance for all those on a work permit or an S pass (i.e. overseas employees).

Employers are encouraged to provide employees with medical benefits by tax incentives.

This schemes include Portable Medical Benefits Scheme or the Transferable Medical Insurance Scheme

The Portable Medical Benefits Scheme is an institutionalized scheme.

Involves Employers making monthly contributions to employees’ MedisaveAccounts which is limited to S$1,500 per employee per year.

The Transferable Medical Insurance Scheme is an employer-sponsored group insurance plan. At present, 19 health insurance companies provide transferable medical insurance products.

Provides coverage for 12 months even if the employee leaves the job for whatever reason.

Patient safety and EMR

Being committed to patient safety Singapore introduced a project to

document the prevalence of medical errors in 2003 which documented 1000

death annually due to inappropriate use of pharmaceuticals and medical

devices.

Accordingly, the government started making electronic medical records

(EMRs) compulsory.

Nine polyclinics affiliated with the National Healthcare Group (NHG)

started to use the scheme in October 2009 and now is slated out for the

remainder.

The creation of the new electronic records system is supported by the

investment of around SGD200mn (US$139mn).

Health Promotion Board Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has a

vision to build a nation of healthy and happy people.

Main driver for national health promotion and disease prevention programmes.

Goal is to increase the quality and years of healthy life and prevent illness, disability and premature death.

About 36 programmes are listed in HPB-A few of them worth mentioning are-Adult Oral Health Promotion Programme , AIDS Education Programme,

BreastScreen Singapore, Healthy Eating in Schools Programme, National Brisk Walking Programme, Nurture Your Mind For Older Persons (NYMOP), Physical Activity Programmes Schedule, RESPECT and STI/AIDS Prevention Programmes for Youths

Health expenditure analysis Total health care expenditure in Singapore in 1995 reached S$3,545

million in 1995. It represented nearly 42 times(S$85million) that in

1960 and 2.7(S$1312) times that in 1986.

GDP fluctuated at around 3% to 4% since 1960.

Health care expenditure per person has increased more than two times between

1986 (S$524.8) and 1995 (S$1,181.7).

Health expenditure Pattern

Share of Financial responsibilty

Analysis

Dr Rohit Nair

WHO Health System Rank 6th in the world

The story behind the scenes….

Political Political Stability since 1965( PAP)Effectiveness of policy of

delivery mechanism of public services and no disruption of policy

implementation. Singapore enjoys a very stable political system

Strong foundation with regulation and guidelines

( Intellectual and property rights)

Official promises have been made to eradicate Singapore’s

reputation as an overprotective nanny-state, with efforts to

enhance freedom of expression.

Strong relationship between the public and the govt that help

overcome barrier in the process of building , maintaining and

developing the nation.

Economic

Strong market foundations consistent growth

Imports most of resources and largely export dependent

Other weaknesses are the public feelings of insecurity and concern about making mistakes and being fined

The SARS outbreak in 2003

The war in Iraq in 2002

long-term economic problems. Competition from low-cost neighbouring countries is on the increase and its population is ageing rapidly.

In the face of regional competition for both exports and investment, the government is encouraging economic diversification to boost competitiveness. New areas being promoted include biomedical sciences, medical and financial services, and tourism.

Social Ethnic diversity of Chinese, Malaysians and Indians.

Worlds cleanest city and the least corrupt city

HDI 27th rank in the world

The worlds only slum free city

100% Urban population

The social strengths of Singapore have been demonstrated by an educational system that produces a well-educated workforce .

Not only developing its own pool of local talents, Singapore also recruits foreign talents to work in both the public and private sectors.

Technology

Technologically, Singapore has a high-tech based economy.

Well-prepared infrastructure and the latest technology

contribute to the rapid development.

IT literate and English Proficient

Nationwide electronic Citizen (e-Citizen) programme.

The Ministry of Health website

Opening up of the market.

Personal Health Records and Electronic Medical Records.

S.W.O.T

Individual Responsibility

Political will

3 M Medical Savings Account

stable government and economy.

availability of skilled medical professional

latest medical technology.

E Health

In terms of accessibility, location and air links

Strengths Strong intellectual property (IP) protection laws.

Favourable tax climate for foreign investment.

World-class capabilities across the entire value chain, (research to support services).

Well-established research infrastructure backed by strong supporting industries.

Singapore is the least corrupt country in Asia,(Transparency International)

Strengths

Ageing Population “silver industry”

Hospital based Health Care system

Resource poor

Shortage of health care professionals

Small population size, which limits longer-term market potential.

The Singapore government censors the media and limits the distribution of foreign publications. The judiciary’s record of siding with prominent politicians calls into question the true extent of its neutrality in any contract dispute involving a politically sensitive issue

Weakness

Medical tourism

Government focused on developing Singapore into a hub for pharmaceuticals

Medical devices, clinical trials and biotechnology, attracting both foreign investment and patients.

There is currently a government-inspired push to 'go regional', strengthening Singapore's position as a hub of medical excellence in SE Asia.

ASEAN Countries Trade policies

Also planned is the creation of a multi million-dollar medical services park, to be co-located with a tertiary hospital.

Opportunities

Threats

Changing Disease Profiles

Costs via high technology and high standards

Rising AIDS,TB

Lifestyle related Diseases

There are fears that Singapore’s foreign policy alignment

with the US will cause the city-state to become a target for

terror attacks launched by Muslim extremists. Terorism

Challenges

The number of seniors will increase from 8.4% in 2005 to 18.7% in 2030. In absolute terms, seniors will increase from about 296,900 in June 2005 to 873,300 in 2030

Healthier. In terms of mobility, about 87% of seniors are ambulant and physically independent. They will also be living longer

Better educated. The proportion of seniors aged 65 – 74 with at least a secondary education is projected to increase from 13.9% in 2005 to 28% by 2010 and to 63% by 2030.

Richer. Each successive cohort of older people will be increasingly affluent and wield greater economic power. As consumers, they represent a potentially large and untapped market sector.

Challenges Cont.

Cost containment vis-a-vis a rapidly ageing population: increasing health care costs due to advances in medical specialisation as well as the use of expensive medical technologies.

Quality of care, while medical audit and quality assurance are currently still relatively underdeveloped

Medical manpower planning: especially in nursing home nursing and ancillary health personnel.

Harnessing information technology: Singapore is working towards a National Health Information System that will allow the seamless flow of information, such as electronic medical records, across all health care establishments;

Increased demand and expectations from the more affluent and educated population.

Diseases that are 'lifestyle-related'. 'Westerners'. HIV-infected people are very often considered as isolated cases who have been 'exposed ‘to foreigners.

What Do the people of Singapore feel about their healthcare

system??

Public Perceptions of Healthcare in Singapore: Case Study (August 2006)

Jeremy FY Lim, Veena Dhanajay Joshi, conducted a survey of Singapore residents to determine perceptions of the affordability and quality of healthcare in Singapore.

A sampling frame comprising 6146 random telephone numbers from the 2005/2006 of the Singapore telephone directory was generated.

Trained interviewers then conducted the survey via telephone using a questionnaire that was purpose designed for this survey.

Respondents were asked to rank their agreement with statements pertaining to healthcare cost and quality on a 5-point Likert scale.

There were 1783 respondents to the survey.

Result Of the Study

Result Continue..

Conclusion: Singaporeans are confident in the Singapore healthcare system and sentiments appear to be

more positive when compared to other countries.

The future

The future

Comparative Analysis

Dr. Shekhar S. Gaddam

Key components of a well functioning health

system ----WHO Leadership and Governance

Health financing

Human resources for health

Essential medical products and technologies

Service delivery

Health information systems

Leadership and Governance

Ensuring that health authorities take responsibility for

steering the entire health system (including the private sector)

Set clear direction through transparent and inclusive process of --

-- planning and strategy

-- accountability

-- monitoring and evaluation

…Leadership and Governance ctd…

Responsibility

/ governance

Planning &

strategy

Monitoring &

evaluation

Accountability

France No Yes Yes Yes

Germany …yes… Yes Yes Yes

UK yes Yes Yes Yes

US …yes… Yes Yes …yes…

Singapore yes Yes Yes Yes

Health Financing

A system to raise sufficient funds for health fairly

A system to pool financial resources

Ensure efficient use of funds

…Health Financing ctd…

Fairness Pooling Efficient utilisation

France …yes… …yes… Yes /no

Germany Yes Yes Yes

UK Yes /no Yes Yes/ no

US No Yes No

Singapore Yes Yes / no Yes

Human Resources for Health

Arrangements for achieving sufficient health professionals in

right mix

Ensure system wide deployment and distribution according to

needs

…Human Resources for Health ctd…

Sufficient no. Right mix Efficient

deployment

France Yes Yes ?Yes

Germany Yes Yes ?Yes

UK No Yes Yes

US Yes Yes No

Singapore No Yes No

Essential Medical Products and

Technology

Medical products regulatory system (marketing, safety,

quality, etc)

National list of essential medical products

Availability and price monitoring system

A national programme to promote rational prescribing

…Essential Medical Products and

Technology ctd…

Regulatory

system

List of

essential

medical

products

Monitoring of

availability

and price

Programme

for rational

prescription

France Yes Yes Yes Yes

Germany Yes Yes Yes Yes

UK Yes Yes Yes Yes

US Yes Yes Yes Yes

Singapore Partly yes Yes Yes Partly yes

Service Delivery

Network of close-to-client primary care and back-up of

specialized care

Standard norms and guidelines to ensure access, quality,

safety and people-centeredness

Mechanisms to hold providers accountable for access and

quality, and to ensure consumer voice

…Service Delivery ctd…

Close-to-pt

primary care

Norms to

ensure

access/quality

/safety

People

centeredness

Accountability

of providers

France Yes Yes Yes /no Yes

Germany Yes Yes Yes /no Yes

UK Yes Yes Yes / no Yes

US Yes Yes / no …Yes… Yes / no

Singapore Yes Yes Yes / recently ? Yes

Health Information System

Health information system

Health management information system

…Health Information System ctd…

HMS HMIS

France Yes and developing Yes

Germany Yes and developing Yes

UK Yes and developing Yes

US Yes Yes

Singapore Yes and developing Yes

Health Indicators

Country Life expectancy in yrs

(m/f/both)

HALE in yrs

(m/f/both)

France 78/85/81 71/76/73

Germany 77/83/80 71/75/73

UK 78/82/80 71/73/72

US 76/81/78 68/72/70

Singapore 79/83/81 71/75/73

…Health Indicators ctd…

IMR / 1000

live births

Less than 5 yrs

MR / 1000

MMR / 1000

deliveries

Adult MR

(prb death 15-

49)/1000

France 3 4 8 87

Germany 4 4 6 78

UK 5 6 7 78

US 7 8 13 107

Singapore 2 3 8 64

…Health Indicators ctd…

Physicians /

10,000

Specialists /

10,000

Nurses / 10,000 Hospital beds

/ 10,000

France 37 17 81 72

Germany 35 20.3 80 83

UK 21 17.7 6 39

US 27 14.6 98 31

Singapore 17 7.8 54 32

Health ExpenditureExpenditure %

of GDP

Govt share in

expenditure

(%)

Pvt share in

expentiture

(%)

Per capita

expenditre

using PPP (US$

France 11 79 21 3709

Germany 10.4 76.9 23.1 3588

UK 8.4 81.7 18.3 2992

US 15.7 45.5 54.5 7285

Singapore 3.1 32.6 67.4 1643

1) Is AMD(Advance Medical Directive )

= EUTHANASIA

????????

2) Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota)

Can we have it in India ????????