Primary Care Landscape in Singapore

A/Prof Benjamin Ong

Director of Medical Services

Ministry of Health, Singapore

Overview of Singapore’s Healthcare System

Acute Hospital

Senior Care Centre

Care at Home

Nursing

Home

Community

Hospital

National

Speciality

Centre

Private Clinic

Polyclinic

2

Overview of Primary Care Landscape

Joo Chiat Maternal & Child Health Clinic

Paya Lebar Outpatient Dispensary Geylang Polyclinic

Pharmacy Private medical clinic 3

Distribution of Private Primary Care Clinics

4

Legend:

CHAS GP clinics

non-CHAS GP clinics

Challenges in Healthcare Provision

5

(1980) Population 2.4 million

(2010) Population 5.1 million

Ageing Population

Rising Burden of

Chronic Diseases

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

DM HPT Hyperlipidaemia At least one of the 3conditions

NUMBER OF RESIDENTS

2010 2015 2020

Challenges within Primary Care

6

Overall Chronic Conditions

81%

19%

55%45%

Polyclinics Private GP Clinics

Polyclinics Private GP Clinics

Polyclinics are currently seeing a disproportionate amount of chronic cases …

Provide portable subsidies for GP visits so that

Singaporeans get access to affordable primary care nearer their doorstep

Team-based care to better address patients’ needs across the whole

spectrum

Community Health Assist

Scheme (CHAS)

Developing polyclinics and new primary care

facilities in underserved areas

Family Medicine Clinics, Community Health Centres and new Polyclinic development

Objectives of Primary Care Masterplan

7

Support services e.g. pharmacy, basic

laboratory services

Team-based services e.g. nurse

counseling, diabetic eye screening

Multi-doctor practice (2 to 4 GPs)

Family Medicine Clinic

(FMC)

New Models of Care – FMCs

8

New Models of Care – CHCs

9

Polyclinics

• Universal subsidies of 50% for adult citizens, and up to 75% for children or elderly patients

Financing Schemes

• Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) • Use of Medisave to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient

treatment of common chronic conditions

• Improve disease management through structured programmes

• Applicable at Specialist Outpatient Clinics, polyclinics, participating private clinics

• Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) • Government subsidises for acute and chronic conditions, selected

dental services and recommended health screenings

• Applicable at participating private clinics

• Pioneer Generation Package (PG Package)

Primary Care Financing

10

Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPC)

11

Redefining and Strengthening the Primary

Care Team

12

New and Upcoming Plans

Sharing of longitudinal health records across the

different providers

Developing the next generation of

polyclinics

13

Preparing Our Healthcare System for the

Future

Acute Hospital

Rehab Centre

Family Physician

Polyclinic

Palliative Care

Screening &

Prevention

Nursing Home

Patient

Community Hospital

14

Thank You