Forum: Cost matters in healthcare, but so does timeliness

Singaporeans have been encouraged to opt for cheaper healthcare insurance, and greater reliance on public healthcare. Having spent over 20 years in private practice after more than a decade in the public sector, I have seen how access and timeliness can differ significantly.

Timely care is often critical. In private practice, patients can be seen quickly, undergo investigations, and even receive surgery on the same day. In the public system, however, appointments and tests may stretch across several visits over weeks or months, especially for subsidised patients.

Even for cancer patients, waiting times can range from one week for private appointments to several weeks for subsidised ones – delays that may influence outcomes. As public hospitals already operate under heavy demand, a shift of more patients into the system may increase strain, particularly as our population ages.

While managing healthcare costs is important, we must also recognise the impact on access and standards of care. It is crucial for us to understand these trade-offs as we navigate the future of healthcare together.

Cost matters – but so does timely, quality care. A balanced system requires us to understand the trade-offs, not ignore them.

Chua Jun Jin (Dr)