SINGAPORE - Out of 19 healthcare providers listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) with a combined market capitalisation of about $23 billion, the 10 largest providers contributed over $20 billion and averaged a total return of 5.7 per cent over the first seven months of 2019.

Going by SGX data on Tuesday (Aug 6), the three best performing healthcare stocks are ISEC Healthcare, Health Management International (HMI) and Singapore O&G - which averaged a total return of 31.2 per cent over the period.

Top performer ISEC Healthcare has a total return year to date (YTD) of 45.2 per cent and a market capitalisation of $181 million. The counter closed unchanged at $0.345 on Tuesday.

The next best performing is HMI, with a total return YTD of 34.1 per cent and a market capitalisation of $603 million. HMI shares closed down half a cent at $0.715 on Tuesday.

Singapore O&G, which takes the third spot, has a total return YTD of 14.2 per cent and a market capitalisation of $186 million. It shares closed at $0.38 on Tuesday, down half a cent.

The 19 healthcare providers listed on the SGX operate patient care services and facilities in Singapore and globally which include laboratories, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

Services and treatments provided range from family medicine, dentistry, endoscopy and aesthetics to gynaecology, oncology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and cord blood banking.