SINGAPORE - The Government has made four shifts to meet the evolving challenge of maintaining good healthcare, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Universal Health Coverage Ministerial Meeting at Grand Copthorne Waterfront, PM Lee noted that people are getting older and the demand for healthcare has increased, while disease patterns are changing.

So the Government is providing more comprehensive support for outpatient treatment, he said. This includes implementing the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), a subsidy scheme for lower to middle income Singaporeans at private clinics.

Secondly, Medishield will be replaced with Medishield Life, a universal and compulsory medical insurance that covers everybody regardless of age or pre-existing conditions

Medishield Life will give better protection from growing bill sizes, PM Lee said.

The Government is also "right-siting" its services so patients receive better, more affordable care in their communities, he added.

This includes improving access to GPs and polyclinics, building community hospitals and structuring subsidies to encourage patients to be treated in the right place where they can receive the most suitable treatment.

Fourth, Singaporeans are also encouraged to take better care of their health through public health campaigns and promoting an active lifestyle within communities.