Press Releases
LAUNCH OF DIGITAL ADVANCE CARE PLANNING TOOL
19 July 2025
Good Progress in Implementation of National Strategy for Palliative Care
The Ministry of Health (MOH), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and Government Technology Agency (GovTech) have jointly developed a new digital Advance Care Planning (ACP) tool, known as “myACP" that enables healthy individuals to easily make their Advance Care Plans online for free, without the need to see a facilitator. Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Mr Ong Ye Kung, officially launched the tool at the ‘Plan Your Legacy Today!’ roadshow today at Heartbeat@Bedok.
2. The new tool myACP is a significant step forward in making ACP more accessible to Singaporeans. Before myACP, individuals must meet with an ACP facilitator to discuss and document their ACP. With myACP, generally healthy Singaporeans can now go online to self-document their care preferences. There is no need to meet an ACP facilitator. It is also free of charge.
Digital ACP Tool to Make Legacy Planning More Accessible
3. ACP is an ongoing process of planning and preparing for one’s future health and personal care. ACP helps individuals communicate to their loved ones and healthcare teams about their personal beliefs, values and how they wish to be cared for when they lose the capacity to do so.
4. myACP guides users to document their care preferences for end-of-life care. These include medical treatment approaches, daily care needs, and personal preferences related to hygiene, companionship and religious requirements. The tool also enables individuals to indicate their priorities between comfort care and life-sustaining treatments.
5. Individuals are to appoint up to two Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson(s) who will convey their care preferences if they are unable to speak for themselves in the future. The myACP service will be available for individuals who are 21 years old and above and with no existing serious illness (such as cancer or dementia). More details on myACP can be found at the MyLegacy@LifeSG website.
6. Those with serious illnesses will continue to complete their ACP based on their specific medical circumstances through a trained ACP facilitator. For those who prefer face-to-face guidance or are less comfortable with digital tools, they can continue to seek assistance at ACP community nodes.
Growing Momentum and Enhanced Support for Legacy Planning
7. As of 11 July 2025, the total number of ACPs completed nationally reached over 77,000, a 40% increase from 55,000 ACPs completed from 2011 to 2024. This growth reflects increasing awareness of the importance of legacy planning.
8. However, more can be done to translate awareness into action. The Legacy Planning Roadshow, jointly organised by MOH, AIC, Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB), the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Public Service Division, is part of a multi-year legacy planning campaign to drive Singaporeans to take action on their Legacy plans. Through informational booths, educational talks, and guided consultations, the roadshow helps members of public understand ACP, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), CPF nomination and wills.
Update on Implementation of National Strategy for Palliative Care
9. In July 2023, MOH launched the National Strategy for Palliative Care (NSPC) to expand and improve end-of-life care in Singapore. In the two years since its launch, we have made progress in four key areas:
i. Palliative care capacity has expanded significantly. Inpatient hospice beds have grown by 15% from 260 in 2023 to about 300 as of 31 March 2025. Home palliative care places have also increased by 25% from 2,400 to almost 3,000 in the same period, and will further increase to 3,600 places by end-2025.
ii. Hospital-to-home transitions have been smoothened. Public hospitals have implemented standardised Compassionate Discharge protocols, making the process simpler for terminally ill patients who wish to return home for their final days. The Equipment Rental Scheme, launched in end October 2024, provides subsidised equipment which support patients discharged home for palliative care. It has benefitted more than 1,000 Singaporeans to date.
iii. Palliative care competency has been strengthened in the community. Previously, nursing home residents approaching their end of life would likely have returned to hospitals to be managed. Today, 62 (or approximately two-thirds of) nursing homes in Singapore have worked with the public hospitals to develop palliative care capabilities which allow their residents to pass on in the comfort and familiarity of their nursing homes.
iv. Palliative care services have become more affordable. Last year, MOH raised the MediShield Life daily claim limits for inpatient palliative care and removed the lifetime MediSave withdrawal limit for all home palliative and day hospice patients who use their own MediSave. Subsidies are also enhanced for all community palliative care patients.
10. Since the implementation of the NSPC, the number of hospital deaths have declined from 62.5% in both 2022 and 2023 to 59.8% in 2024. This translates to thousands of Singaporeans being able to spend their final days in their preferred setting outside of hospitals. MOH targets to further reduce the number of hospital deaths to 51% by 2027.
11. The launch of myACP, together with the progress made in the NSPC initiatives, represent MOH’s continued commitment to improve palliative care in Singapore. We encourage all Singaporeans to tap on the tools – ACP, LPA, CPF nomination and wills – to embark on the legacy planning journey. More information available at: https://mylegacy.life.gov.sg/.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
19 JULY 2025