UK’s % of GDP public healthcare spending 4x S’pore’s?

June 18, 2018

Why is Singapore’s public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP so low?

I refer to the article “May to unveil £20bn a year boost to NHS spending” (The Guardian, Jun 16).

It states that “Taxpayers are to be asked to help fund a £20bn a year injection of extra cash into the National Health Service by 2023-24 that will pay for thousands more doctors and nurses, while cutting cancer deaths and improving mental health services, Theresa May will say today.”

In this connection, it was reported in the Singapore media this year that Singapore’s public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP was 2.2 per cent – and the United Kingdom’s was 9.8 per cent – does it mean that the UK’s is about four times that of Singapore’s?

Also, does it mean that from a cashflow perspective – we may not be spending any money on healthcare, as the inflows exceed the outflows every year?

Leong Sze Hian

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.