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
Healthcare has a strong relationship to Information Technology and is an evolutionary process meant to increase the efficacy of the model of patient care in our communities. This paper will discuss the relationship of technology in modern medicine and the cause and effect relationship within the Healthcare Law. Peter F. Hanna Southern New Hampshire University February 22, 2015 Abstract Healthcare Information Technology has been developed to maximize efficiency in the delivery of healthcare and…
Comparison of Healthcare Practices Kelly Marie Jones Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: ANT 101 David Jenkins September 2, 2013 As a society, Americans generally use conventional western medicine for most of our health care needs, but is it the best option? When we look at other cultures and their healthcare practices, it is easy to see that there are many different ideas about what constitutes “health care.” Our healthcare system is…
Quality Improvement goes far beyond the level of hospital care. There have been organizations devoted to implementing Continuous Quality Improvement directly and indirectly. These organizations offer accreditations that impact how business is done in healthcare but most importantly they highlight and stress the safety of patient while providing the physician with the most current methodology of practice. According to McLauglin, “there are three basic CQI strategies: true process improvement, competitive…
1 U.S. Healthcare System HCA 497 Health Care Studies Capstone Instructor: Jennine Kinsey September 9, 2013 U.S. Healthcare 2 U.S. Healthcare System Many people believe that the current of health care in the United States is the best health care in the…
When one immediately thinks of healthcare, traditional medicine with medical doctors and surgeons come to mind. However, there are plenty of complementary and alternative medical techniques and professionals that attribute to healthcare. Many of these alternative medicine techniques offer a more natural route for those that prefer it, or may try it as an option before deciding surgery is there only option. Some of these techniques have been labeled a little “hocus-pocus-y” because they are often…
Personalized medicine relies on Big Data The core objective of personalized medicine is to generate a structure that exploits patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) and OMICS (primarily genomics) data to facilitate clinical decision-making that is predictive, personalized, preventive, and participatory (P4 Medicine) [26, 27]. To study personalized medicine, we need to collect and integrate biological data (e.g. gene, protein sequences, functions, biological process and pathways) and clinical…
care setting. With new healthcare practice environments and requirements under the healthcare reform, as well as the growing patient population, the nurse’s role is in the midst of transformation. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report; The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health addresses the challenges that the nursing profession faces in light of the changing healthcare landscape and addresses changes needed to the nursing profession as America’s healthcare system undergoes change…
HEALTHCARE RELATED BELIEFS, VALUES AND PERCEPTIONS IN MADAGASCAR: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UHCL Honesty Code “I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.” Submission of this assignment/exam certifies my compliance with the UHCL Honesty Code that I signed at the start of the semester. I pledge on my honor that I have complied with this policy, inclusive of not…
Medicine and Healthcare in Early America During the times of early America bacteria and viruses were responsible for most diseases. Furthermore, there was very little link between unsanitary conditions and disease. The following passages from StratfordHall.Org give examples of the diseases, conditions and treatments that Early Americans faced during the 18th Century: A Colonial teenager faced a struggle for existence. The average life expectancy was under twenty-five years. Diseases such as smallpox…
PAPER WHERE CAN $700 BILLION IN WASTE BE CUT ANNUALLY FROM THE U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM? ROBERT KELLEY VICE PRESIDENT, HEALTHCARE ANALYTICS THOMSON REUTERS OCTOBER 2009 INTRODUCTION How America will pay for healthcare is a subject on the mind of virtually every American today. As Congress determines who will pick up the tab for this important and growing expense, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the cost of healthcare itself. Are there areas where expenses can be cut without undermining…