Background

Singapore is a country with a total land area of 699 sq. km (434 sq. miles). The total population is about 4.35 million, with a resident population of 3.55 million in 2005. Singapore has a relatively young population, with only 8.3 percent of the population above 65.

The state of health in Singapore is good by international standards. The infant mortality rate in 2005 stands at 2.1 per 1,000 live births, while average life expectancy is 79.7 years. The leading causes of morbidity and mortality are currently the major non-communicable diseases, with cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease accounting for approximately 60 percent of all deaths in 2005.

In 2005, Singapore spent about S$7.6 billion, or 3.8 percent of GDP, on healthcare, of which government expenditure on health services was S$1.8 billion, or 0.9 percent of GDP.

Healthcare system

Singapore has a hybrid system of healthcare delivery. The government manages the public healthcare system, while private hospitals and general practitioners comprise the private healthcare system. Private practitioners provide 80 percent of the primary healthcare services, while the public sector polyclinics provide the remaining 20 percent. For the more costly secondary and tertiary hospital care, it is the reverse, with 80 percent of hospital care being provided by the public sector and the remaining 20 percent by the private sector. Patients are free to choose providers within this dual healthcare delivery system.