ASSESSING TREND OF SINGAPOREANS SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN MALAYSIA AND MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN SINGAPORE'S HEALTHCARE HUB STATUS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3374

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 4 FEBRUARY 2025

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament 

Dr Lim Wee Kiak

MP for Sembawang GRC

 Question 6454

To ask the Minister for Health (a) what is the Ministry’s assessment of the growing trend of Singaporeans seeking medical treatment in Malaysia for reasons such as affordability and accessibility; and (b) what measures will be implemented to strengthen Singapore's healthcare hub status and ensure affordable, timely and high quality medical care domestically.

Answer

1          MOH does not track the number of Singaporeans who travel to Malaysia for medical treatment nor their reasons for doing so.    

2        MOH’s priority is to ensure that healthcare in Singapore remains affordable, accessible and of high quality. We recently expanded hospital capacity with the opening of Woodlands Health Campus in 2024. We have also introduced new models of care such as telehealth and Mobile Inpatient Care @ Home, which improve access to care for our patients.  We will also be increasing MediShield Life and MediSave limits significantly from April 2025, ensuring that they remain adequate to cover nine in ten subsidised bills.   

3        We have developed a good international and regional reputation in providing quality healthcare, and will continue to welcome overseas patients to Singapore. But we are not aspiring to be a medical hub that actively promotes medical tourism.