SINGAPOREANS SEEKING DENTAL TREATMENT IN JOHOR BAHRU AND MEASURES TO ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS OF DENTAL INDUSTRY

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3210

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 11 NOVEMBER 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms He Ting Ru

MP for Sengkang GRC

Question No. 6269

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has data on the number of Singaporeans who have sought dental treatment in Johor Bahru (JB) in the past year; (b) what is the average cost difference between comparable dental procedures in Singapore and JB; (c) how many dental clinics in Singapore have closed in the past five years; and (d) what specific measures is the Ministry implementing to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore's dental industry against regional competitors.

Answer

1 The Ministry of Health does not collect or track data on Singaporeans seeking dental treatment in Johor Bahru or the costs of dental procedures there. From 2019 to 2023, the number of dental clinics in Singapore increased by over 10% from 1,091 in 2019 to 1,228 in 2023.

2 Cost of doing business in Singapore is higher than Johor Bahru. That said, we will continue to ensure that dentists are well-trained and competent, and dental services in Singapore are safe, of high quality and, through various support schemes, remain affordable for Singaporeans.