Singapore is already well known for being one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in.

More and more, I am hearing that we are also a very expensive country to seek medical treatment in.

With Singapore aiming to be a medical hub, shouldn't this be a cause for concern?

Maybe it is time for the Health Ministry, besides regulating its own medical procedural costs, to start compiling a list of "key treatment" costs in the main private hospitals.

We have top-class medical services here but if we do not keep the high costs in check, we can expect patients to start going elsewhere, like Malaysia and Thailand.

There is no point building more medical hubs when the main costs of treatment are not regulated.

David Soh Poh Huat