Medicine and Healthcare Essay

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Singapore’s Healthcare System Singapore is an island country located in Southeast Asia, between Indonesia and Malaysia with a population of 5.3 million. Recognized and praised for their electrical manufacturing industry, finance and healthcare, Singapore was named the third wealthiest nation in the world by Forbes Magazine for 2012. Singapore has established and received acclaim for a remarkable healthcare system. With government intervention, private sectors and programs that promote healthy living and prevention for citizens, Singapore’s Healthcare System has set a standard and model for the world to rival. While Singapore’s population is only 5.3 million people, a small country compared to others, citizens have a longer life expectancy, on average 84 years. In Mercer’s 2011 Quality of Life survey, Singapore placed 25th in the world. In determining quality of life rankings, focus is brought to political and social environment, housing, education, health and sanitation. There are three government branches that govern Singapore’s healthcare system, Minister of Health (MOH), which promotes health education and prevention, monitors accessibility and the quality of healthcare services. Second, Central Provident Fund (CPF) is responsible for Singapore’s social security savings plan. CPF safeguards working Singaporeans in their retirement, making sure they are able to sustain themselves after retirement. Workers are required to make contributions into three separate savings including a MediSave account. The third branch of government, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), is Singapore’s central bank that oversees and regulates insurances for the sake of policyholders. Singapore’s citizens benefit from a world-class health system composed of public and private healthcare. The Ministry of Health sees to it that exceptional and affordable medical care is accessible to all Singaporeans. Their philosophy is that “…healthcare begins with building a healthy population through preventive healthcare programs and promoting a healthy lifestyle” (Singapore’s Ministry of Health, 2012). This philosophy encourages its citizens to become their own advocates and take responsibility in regards to living a healthy lifestyle. Primary healthcare in Singapore incorporates primary treatment, preventive healthcare and health education. Twenty percent of primary healthcare is provided through a network of government polyclinics set up to provide outpatient services, while the remainder eighty percent is serviced through private clinics. Polyclinics offer multiple healthcare services in one location. Here, patients receive outpatient treatment, follow-up care after hospital discharge, immunizations, health screenings, pharmacy services and healthcare education. Singapore offers thirteen government subsidized hospitals and specialty centers and sixteen smaller private hospitals. There are seven public hospitals compromised of five general, acute hospitals, a women and children’s hospital and one psychiatric hospital. The general hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient services as well as a 24-hour emergency department. There are also six national specialty clinics that provide specialized care for oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, neuroscience and dentistry. Although these hospitals and specialty centers are government owned, they are operated as a private not-for-profit organization, allowing for the hospitals to have management authority. Differing from private hospitals, public hospitals receive annual government subsidiaries to provide medical services to the public. Long-term care of Singaporeans is provided by a number of residential and community-based healthcare assistance programs and facilities. Some of the services include chronic sick hospitals, nursing homes, inpatient hospice, home nursing and hospice care, psychiatric day care and rehabilitation housing. Singapore has also
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