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[ passport to Singapore ]

Singapore City

Like Malaysia, Singapore is less familiar to US patients as a health travel destination than Thailand and India. However, Singapore has been an international healthcare destination since the 1980s, and more than 400,000 international patients visited Singapore in 2006.

The country boasts 13 JCI-accredited hospitals and centres and the most JCI-accredited facilities in Asia. Singapore is also home to Asia’s second largest hospital network, Parkway Group Healthcare, with 1,500 beds, 1,400 specialists, and three JCI-accredited treatment centres.

In 2000 the World Health Organization ranked Singapore’s healthcare system number one in Asia and sixth in the world. Singapore has one of the lowest infant (1.9/1,000 births) and maternal (0.0 to 1.0/1,000 live or stillbirths) mortality rates in the world. Life expectancy averages 79.3 years; males live an average of 77.4 years and females, 81.3 years.

The Health Manpower Development Program, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, sends Singapore doctors to the best medical centres around the world, and they return to serve, bringing with them a quality of services to match international standards.

Having invested a great deal of time, money, and energy in the quality of its healthcare professionals, facilities, and infrastructure through the past decades of economic plenty, Singapore finds itself in the curious position of having insufficient sick people to sustain the quality of healthcare services it has developed. Singapore’s medical system must serve a larger population than its 4.5 million people—hence, the large “in-sourcing” of patients.

In 2003 the government of Singapore launched the SingaporeMedicine Initiative to develop and maintain Singapore as a medical travel destination and to consolidate its considerable medical offerings. The Singapore government supports the healthcare industry for both local and international patients. Research partnerships with US universities, such as Johns Hopkins and Duke Medical Centre, along with formal relationships with GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis, underscore Singapore’s sustained commitment to cutting-edge healthcare.

Singapore as a medical destination is uniquely supported by a multifaceted medical hub with research and development, medical conferences and training, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, and headquartering of multinational healthcare corporations.

Singapore boasts a wider range of healthcare services than most other countries. Highlights include the Biopolis Biotechnology Research Center, SingHealth’s National Cancer Centre Singapore, and National Neuroscience Institute.

The new hub of Singapore’s health sciences effort is the $300 million Biopolis, a seven-building, 2-million-square-foot biotechnology research centre that opened in late 2003. Among other projects, Biopolis houses a stem cell bank to parlay some of the world’s most liberal laws on the use of human embryonic cells into research and experimentation. Researchers hope that stem cells, the all-purpose building blocks that turn into specific tissues (such as bone, muscle, or nerves), can be cultivated and used to treat congenital defects, injuries, and a host of other maladies. Dozens of US and European scientists have been lured to Biopolis, which has, in turn, yielded partnerships with prominent universities, research centres, and pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.

The National Cancer Centre is one of Asia’s leading hospitals for oncology diagnosis and treatment. This multidisciplinary research and treatment complex offers specialties in bone, breast, brain, cervical, colon, liver, lymph, lung, ovarian, and prostate cancers. The National Neuroscience Institute, the leading regional specialist centre for treatment, education, and research in the neurosciences, has the world’s first integrated neuroscience centre, the BrainSuite. It has an operating theatre equipped for high-precision radio-surgery and advanced image-guidance navigation.

Health travellers enjoy the widespread use of English as the preferred business language. Because Singapore is one of Asia’s wealthiest nations and has Southeast Asia’s highest standard of living, medical travellers are spared the glaring cultural and economic contrasts often seen in India, Central America, and South America.

While most treatments are far less costly than in the US, Singapore remains one of Asia’s more expensive medical stops, catering largely to patrons from adjacent countries, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, who are seeking higher quality care and are willing to pay for it. The slightly higher prices are offset by shorter stays, better outcomes, and quicker returns to active life.

Those seeking scenic side trips or exotic vacations should know that Singapore is entirely urban and suburban, offering few opportunities for rural or beach excursions. However, Malaysia and Thailand, both excellent medical destinations in their own right, are relatively short hops by air from Singapore and offer additional vacation options.

At a Glance Language : English (primary language), Mandarin, Malay, Tamil Currency : Singapore dollar (SGD) Visa Required? : Not for stays shorter than 90 days Recommended Immunizations : Hepatitis A; Boosters for Typhoid and Polio Treatment Specialties : Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Hepatology, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Stem Cell Therapy Leading Hospitals and Clinics : National Healthcare Group, Parkway Group Healthcare, Raffles Medical Group, Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) JCI-Accredited Hospitals : Alexandra Hospital, Changi General Hospital, East Shore Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital and Medical Centre, Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital, Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, National Heart Centre, National Skin Centre, National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Standards and Accreditation: Specialists Accreditation Board, Singapore Ministry of Health, JCI Typical Treatments and Costs Cardiovascular :  Coronary Artery Bypass Graft : $12,050-$20,500 Bypass + Valve Replacement : Single Valve : $21,000-$23,500 Double Valve : $22,500-$25,000 Pacemaker (single-chambered) : $550 Pacemaker (double-chambered) : $750 Angiography : $2,500-$3,750 Angioplasty : $9,950-$16,400 Orthopaedic :  Birmingham Hip Resurfacing : $12,000 Carpal Tunnel : $850-$1,250 Joint Replacement : Knee : $8,350-$10,900 Hip : $12,000 Ankle : $4,500-$6,000 Shoulder : $5,500-$6,800 Vision :  Cataract (per eye) : $1,850-$4,000 Glaucoma (per eye) : $500-$4,150 LASIK (per eye) : $925-$1,800 Weight Loss :  LAP-BAND System : $8,800 Gastric Bypass : $13,000-$40,000 Cosmetic :  Botox : $300-$1,000 Breast Augmentation : $5,000-$10,000 Breast Lift/Reduction : $5,000-$10,000 Breast Reconstruction : $3,500-$5,000 Facelift : $5,000-$10,000 Liposuction : $3,000-$10,000 Tummy Tuck : $4,000-$8,000 Dental :  Porcelain Veneer : $250-$300 Crown (all porcelain) : $275-$325 Inlays and Onlays : $425 Implant : $2,500-$3,200 Extraction (surgical, per tooth) : $50-$125 Other :  Gall Bladder Removal : $1,950-$3,850 Hernia Repair (one) : $1,950-$3,350 Prostate Surgery (TURP) : $3,550-$6,950

Directory

National Healthcare Group
National University Hospital
www.nuh.com.sg

Tan Tock Seng Hospital
www.ttsh.com.sg

John Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre
www.imc.jhmi.edu

Alexandra Hospital
www.alexhosp.com.sg

Parkway Group Healthcare
Gleaneagles Hospital & Medical Centre
www.gleneagles.com.sg

Mount Elizabeth Hospital
www.mountelizabeth.com.sg

Specialist Dental Group (Henry Lee Dental Surgery)
www.specialistdentalgroup.com

Singapore Health Services (SingHealth)
Changi General Hospital
www.cgh.com.sg

KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital
www.kkh.com.sg

Singapore General Hospital
www.sgh.com.sg

National Cancer Centre Singapore
www.nccs.com.sg

National Dental Centre
www.ndc.com.sg

National Heart Centre
www.nhc.com.sg

Singapore National Eye Centre
www.snec.com.sg

National Neuroscience Institute
www.nni.com.sg

National Skin Centre
www.nsc.gov.sg

Raffles Medical Group
Raffles Hospital
www.raffleshospital.com