The small state of Singapore is is well-known for its very stringent laws and regulations particularly in the areas involving cleanliness. These regulations are carried over to Singapore’s ultra-high quality levels in healthcare and world-class facilities, making it an ideal destination for medical travelers who are looking for modern infrastructure, a clean and structured environment, and an English-speaking populace.
Singapore’s Healthcare System
In 2,000, the World Health Organization ranked Singapore as the 6th best health system in the world, much higher than the United States, Canada ot the UK. Hospitals and medical centers in Singapore are mostly government or public facilities, while a few are privately owned like the Raffles and Parkway hospitals.
All Singaporean hospitals offer ‘top-of-the-line’ healthcare services and facilities. They are serviced by English-speaking and internationally trained medical practitioners and staff.
Hospital Accreditations – International
Most hospitals and specialty centers in Singapore cater to medical tourists, and practically all of them offer ultra-high quality healthcare. Most major hospitals in Singapore have international accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), ISO or OHSAS. In 2011, Singapore had 18 JCI-accredited hospitals and medical centers.
Hospital Accreditations – Local
Singaporean health facilities receive local accreditation from the Singapore Health Promotion Board, the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation System (SINGLAS), the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) and the Singaporean Ministry of Health.
The Health Sciences Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Accreditation Council control and regulate the certification of medical devices and other health products.
Physicians Accreditations
Medical practitioners’ standards and practices are regulated by the Singapore Medical Council,Singapore Nursing Board, Singapore Dental Board, Pharmacy Board and the Laboratory Board.
Common Treatments done in Singapore by Medical Tourists
Singaporean hospitals and healthcare facilities offer a wide array of procedures and services for medical travelers, which include but are not limited to the following:
• Orthopedic Surgery (hip and knee replacements, etc)
• Cardiac Surgeries (heart bypass, valve replacements, etc)
• Cancer and Oncology
• Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Cosmetic Surgery
• Dental Services (surgeries, dental implants, etc)
• Bariatric Surgeries
• Eye / Ophthalmology (LASIK, Cataract surgeries, etc)
• Pediatrics
Cost of Medical Treatment in Singapore
The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in Singapore and equivalent procedures in the United States: [sources 1, 2, 3]
| Cardiac Surgery | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| Heart Bypass | $55,000 – $130,000 | $13,000 – $18,500 | 70-80% |
| Heart Valve Replacement | $130,000 – $160,000 | $12,000 – 13,000 | 90-92% |
| Coronary Angioplasty | $42,000 – $57,000 | $11,500 – $13,000 | 70-77% |
| Coronary Angiography | $5,500 – $6,000 | $1,300 – $1,500 | 70-75% |
| Orthopedic Surgery | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| Hip Replacement | $24,000 – $43,000 | $12,000 – $16,000 | 50-65% |
| Hip Resurfacing | $45,000 – $50,000 | $13,000 – $15,000 | 70-75% |
| Knee Replacement | $38,000 – $42,000 | $12,000 – $13,500 | 65-70% |
| Spinal Fusion | $60,000 – $63,000 | $8,000 – $10,000 | 80-85% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| Face Lift (Rhytidectomy) | $19,000 – $21,000 | $6,500 – $7,500 | 60-65% |
| Breast Augmentation/Reduction (Mammoplasty) | $9,000 – $11,000 | $7,000 – $9,000 | 18-20% |
| Liposuction (Lipoplasty) | $14,000 – $16,000 | $4,500 – $5,500 | 60-65% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) | $6,500 – $7,500 | $3,500 – $4,500 | 40-46% |
| Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) | $8,000 – $9,000 | $6,000 – $6,500 | 25-40% |
| Eyelid Surgery | $6,500 – $7,500 | $3,500 – $4,000 | 45-50% |
| Eye / Ophthalmology | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| LASIK Eye Surgery | $2,000 – $2,500 | $1,500 – $2,000 | 20-25% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| Root Canal | $800 – $1200 | $350 – $900 | 25-60% |
| Other procedures | |||
| Procedure | US Hospitals | Singapore | Average Savings |
| Stem Cell Transplant | $200,000 – $250,000 | $72,000 – $90,000 | 60-65% |
| Hysterectomy | $19,000 – $21,000 | $5,500 – $6,500 | 70-75% |
Malpractice and Liability Laws in Singapore
Doctors in Singapore are required to have suitable medical malpractice insurance, but these are not as expensive as compared to the US. The costs are recovered through payments for medical procedures and treatments as shouldered by patients.
Pros
- Quality healthcare system
The WHO ranked the quality of healthcare in Singapore as 6th in the world.
- Modern and developed country
Singapore is a highly urbanized, orderly and spotless country so medical tourists can avoid the chaotic environment which is typical to some Asian countries.
- JCI accreditations
There are several JCI-certified hospitals and healthcare facilities in Singapore.
- English is widely spoken
English is one of Singapore’s official languages and is spoken by all doctors and medical staff.
Cons
- More expensive then other Asian countries
Medical procedures and treatments done in Singapore are more expensive compared to other Asian medical tourism destinations such as Thailand, India, Philippines and Malaysia.
- Climate
The climate in Singapore is hot and humid. This may cause a measure of discomfort to most Westerners, particularly during the post-procedure and recovery stages.
- Living costs
Prices of goods, transportation and accommodation in Singapore are more expensive than most Asian countries
- Inconvenient flight from Europe/North America
For US, Canadian and European medical tourists, travel times to Singapore are very long
Traveling to Singapore
Non-stop or single-stop flights are available from various destinations to Singapore through the flagship Singapore Airlines and other international airlines.
Average estimated travel time in hours
| From/To | Singapore |
| New York City | 18 |
| Los Angeles | 16 |
| Australia (Sydney) | 7 |
| Indonesia (Jakarta) | 2 |
| Philippines (Manila) | 3.5 |
| UAE (Dubai) | 7 |
| Toronto | 21 |
| Vancouver | 18 |
| United Kingdom | 14 |
Singapore Entry and Exit Requirements
As a general requirement for entry and exit to Singapore, all foreign visitors are required to have the following items:
passport/travel document with a minimum validity of 6 months;
a return or onward ticket; entry requirements for the visitor’s next destination;
sufficient funds that would support their stay and purpose in Singapore;
and required applicable Visa or visit pass as described below.
Visiting nationals from the UK, Australia, Canada, USA and EU countries do not require a Visa upon entry and will be issued a Social Visit Pass upon arrival, provided that they comply with the general requirements as described above. The visit pass is valid for 30 days upon arrival. Other countries listed in Singapore’s Assessment Level I and Level II countries are required to have either a Business Visa or a Social Visit Visa prior to entry to Singapore.
Should there be a need for an extension in stay, or if the required pre-procedure and post-procedure duration requirements extend beyond 30 days, the medical traveler should arrange for an extension pass (valid up to 90 days) from the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore or the Consulate-General of Singapore before leaving the United States or Canada. If the need for extension is determined while already in Singapore, special permits can be arranged and obtained from the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.
Statistics of Medical Tourism in Singapore
Singapore attracts hundreds of thousands of medical tourists per year, according to exit surveys conducted on tourists by the Singapore Tourism Board. Singapore’s international patients are mostly from Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, UAE and China.
The figures shown below were reported by Mr Jason Yap, a director in the Singapore Tourism Board:
Number of Singapore medical tourists based on official surveys
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| 210,000 | 230,000 | 320,000 | 374,000 | 410,000 |