Providing only what is needed will keep healthcare costs sustainable: SM Lee

Don't over-treat, over-prescribe and be careful in adopting new treatments, he says

- Salma Khalik

Healthcare needs in Singapore will have to be managed not just by building new hospitals, but also through discipline in providing only what is necessary.

Speaking on July 13 at the official opening of the Woodlands Health (WH) campus, the third new general hospital opened in a decade, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Republic cannot keep building new hospitals to meet the growing needs of a rapidly ageing population.

“We must also maintain discipline in not over-treating or over-prescribing, and be discriminating in adopting new medical treatments, procedures, drugs and technology, in order to keep our overall healthcare costs sustainable for the long term,” said SM Lee in outlining the path ahead for the healthcare system.

“At the same time, we must maintain the right mix of government subsidies, medical insurance and individual co-payment, to minimise wrong incentives, perverse incentives, which would lead to unsatisfactory outcomes.”

SM Lee said Singapore will continue to train more competent doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, and improve its healthcare facilities and infrastructure.

But he added that tough decisions and trade-offs are needed for the country to continue delivering high-quality, affordable healthcare to Singaporeans.