“Lowest” healthcare spending in the world?

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February 6, 2016

Spend more on healthcare, not defence

I refer to Paul Tambyah (Dr), Member, Central Executive Committee, Singapore Democratic Party’s letter “Strong defence needed, but not excessive spending” (Straits Times Forum, Feb 6).

Govt share of healthcare expenditure dropped from 60 to 30% 

It states that “Since the restructuring of public healthcare in the 1980s, the Government has reduced its share of healthcare expenditure to around 30 per cent, from the more than 60 per cent which gave Singapore some outstanding public health achievements in the 1950s and 60s.”

1 of the lowest healthcare spending in the world?

According to the Ministry of Health’s web site – “Government Health Expenditure (as % of GDP)” was 1.9 per cent in FY2014.

Is this one of the lowest in the world?

Govt not spending on healthcare?

Our healthcare financing model from a cashflow perspective – may mean that the Government is not spending any money on healthcare, as annual Medisave contributions plus account balances’ interest may continue to exceed public healthcare spending and Medisave withdrawals for expenses and premiums.

“Insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure and manpower”

As to “The insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure and manpower has led to overloaded hospitals and overworked staff” –

Hong Kong’s ratio of hospital beds double S’pore’s?

Hong Kong’s hospital beds to population ratio was 44 hospital beds per 10,000 population in 2014.

In contrast, Singapore’s 12,505 hospital beds in 2014, according to the Department of Statistics’ Yearbook of Statistics 2015 – works out to a ratio of only 23 beds per 10,000 population (12,505 divided by 5,540,000).

So, does it mean that Hong Kong’s ratio is almost double (44 divided by 23 = 91 per cent more) Singapore’s?

Taiwan’s ratio of hospital beds triple S’pore’s?

For Taiwan, the ratio was 66 (2013).

So, does it mean that Taiwan’s ratio was almost triple (66 divided by 23 = 187 per cent more) Singapore’s?

S’pore’s hospital beds increased 4.8% from 2001 to 2014?

Of course, it didn’t help that – the number of total hospital beds in Singapore was 11,936 in 2001 and only increased by about 4.8 per cent (12,505 divided by 11,936 beds) from 2001 to 2014?

Population increased 35% by 1.44m?

Against this, the population has increased by 35.1 per cent from 4.1 million in 2001 to 5.54 million in June 2015.

Leong Sze Hian

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.