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Healthcare in Singapore boasts excellent quality standards, both in the public and private sector. The
system of public healthcare in Singapore consists of several government schemes for citizens and
permanent residents. These schemes reimburse a substantial part of medical bills. Nonetheless, most
participants still need to cover some costs from their own pocket or via supplementary insurance.
Government healthcare in Singapore is subsidized and organized by the CPF, the Central Provident Fund
Board, and the Ministry of Health. The CPF is an integral part of Singapores social security in general. Its
provisions for public healthcare in Singapore include the four insurance plans described below.
Medisave (1984)
Every month, 8% - 10.5% (depending on age group) of salary is deposited into Medisave
Money deposited can be used to pay for personal or immediate familys hospitalization, day
surgery and certain outpatient expenses bills
Compulsory
Medisave can be claimed only if the patient stays in the hospital for at least 8 hours (unless the
patient is admitted for day surgery)
MOH will allow the use of Medisave to help pay part of the outpatient cost, and reduce out of
pocket payment for patients
For each bill, patients will only need to pay the first $30 of the bill (as the deductible) as well as 15
per cent of the balance of the bill. Medisave can be used to pay for the remaining amount.
MediShield (1990)
Acts like a medical insurance: helps pay part of the large hospitalisation bills for treatment of
serious illnesses or prolonged hospitalisations (even after Medisave coverage)
Medishield will cover up to 80% of your large medical bill at the Class B2/C level
Medishield covers hospitalization expenses, surgery/day surgery and certain approved outpatient
treatments, such as kidney dialysis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer treatment
Medishield is designed for Class B2/C wards, so for hospital stays in higher class wards/private
hospitals Medishield claim will be calculated based on a percentage of your hospital bill
Similarly, if you go for unsubsidised day surgery, your Medishield claim will be calculated based
on a percentage of your bill
Claims based on: citizenship, age group, class of wards/type of hospitals, length of medical
procedure/hospitalization, type of medical procedure
Gives benefits to both Singapore citizens and non-citizens (SPRs and foreigners)
ensure the harmony between the different groups in the society and even foreigners are given
this benefit, thus ensuring that everyone in Singapore is given the same benefit, while giving
Singaporeans more subsidy in their healthcare prices
encourages Singaporeans to continue staying in Singapore to receive such benefits and also to
encourage foreign talents in Singapore to become Singaporeans so as to receive more benefits.
Policy is an opt-out one, thus government is actually providing citizens and non-citizens in
times of economic crises, they will still have enough money to pay for hospital bills
Ensures that regardless of religion and race, everyone will receive the same amount of benefit,
ensuring social stability
Only applies to certain government hospitals, which in turn will encourage citizens to visit
government hospitals rather than private ones, thereby helping to contribute to Singapores
economy
Medifund (1993)
Endowment fund set up by the Government as a safety net to help poor and indigent
Singaporeans pay for their medical care
Acts as a last resort for patients who, despite heavy Government subsidies, Medisave and
Medishield, are unable to pay for their medical expenses
Patients receiving inpatient treatment in Class B2/C wards or subsidised outpatient treatment in
the public hospitals may apply for help from Medifund
Patients have to fulfil certain income criteria before their applications can be approved. The
amount of help from Medifund will depend on individual circumstances and the patient's financial
background.
The applicant must exhaust all other funds (e.g. Medisave) first before the balance is being
considered for Medifund
Available to all medical and healthcare services (including day surgery, hospitalisation etc.)
EXCEPT respite care and delivery
Eases financial burden of less well-to-do families (esp. in times of economic crises)
Not limited to race or religion: thus making it fair for all Singapore citizens who meet the other
criterias to apply
Gives more support to elderly Singaporeans with no Medisave or who did not accumulate enough
Medisave because the Scheme was implemented too late for them
Provides good welfare for all Singaporean citizens, regardless of gender, race, religion or age
(ensures social stability), thus making it a sound and fair policy
Eldershield
The 4th pillar of government-subsidized healthcare in Singapore is called ElderShield. As the name
implies, this insurance schemes assists elderly patient with severe long-term disabilities. From the age of
entry to the age of 65, those insured via ElderShield pay a yearly premium. For example, a 40-year-old
Singaporean woman will pay an annual lump sum of SGD 218 for the next 25 years. The premiums for
men are usually lower, due to their lower life expectancy.
If ElderShield participants become severely disabled in old age i.e. they need help with tasks such as
washing, dressing, or feeding themselves the program assists with nursing care. They get monthly cash
payouts of SGD 400 for up to six years to cover some of the related costs. There are three governmentapproved insurance providers in Singapore that offer ElderShield plans. If you want bonus coverage with
higher payouts or a longer period of time, you have to buy additional insurance from the same companies.
organs quickly become unusable for transplantation after cardiac death. However tissues such as bone,
skin, heart valves and corneas can be donated within 24 hours of death.
Brain Death
In some cases, when there is a brain injury (for e.g. due to accident or stroke), the brain may stop
functioning before the heart. Brain death means there is no flow of blood or oxygen to the brain and
therefore, the brain cannot function in its capacity and never will again. Other organs, such as the heart,
lungs, kidneys, pancreas or liver, may function for a brief period of time after brain death if person is
supported on a ventilator. Unless damaged by disease or injury, these organs may benefit other
individuals in need of organ transplants.
Donation of vital organs such as kidneys, heart and liver is usually possible only after brain death. Brain
death is accepted as the legal definition of death in Singapore and in other advanced countries. It is
determined based on a standard, well-defined set of clinical criteria. This definition is similar to those used
in countries such as Australia, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
AMD (Advance Medical Directive)
An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document that you sign in advance to inform the doctor
treating you (in the event you become terminally ill and unconscious) that you do not want any
extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to be used to prolong your life.
Making an AMD is a voluntary decision. It is entirely up to you whether you wish to make one. In fact, it is
a criminal offence for any person to force you to make one against your will.
"Terminal illness" is defined in the Act as an incurable condition caused by injury or disease from which
there is no reasonable prospect of a temporary or permanent recovery. For such a condition, death is
imminent even if extraordinary life-sustaining measures were used. These measures would only serve to
postpone the moment of death for the patient.
"Extraordinary life-sustaining treatment" is any medical treatment which serves only to prolong the
process of dying for terminally ill patients but does not cure the illness.
An example is the respirator that is connected to a patient to assist him/her to breathe. It serves only
to artificially prolong the life of a terminally ill patient.
Anyone who is 21 years old and above, and is not mentally disordered can make an AMD. All you need to do is to
complete an AMD form, sign in the presence of two witnesses, and return it to the Registrar of AMDs.