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Ministry of Health
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  2. Managing expenses
  3. Schemes and subsidies
  4. Subsidies for Specialist Outpatient care at Public Healthcare Institutions

Subsidies for Specialist Outpatient care at Public Healthcare Institutions

The Ministry of Health provides subsidies for care provided in Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) at our public hospitals to ensure that patients have access to more affordable care.

Last updated 3 December 2024

On this page

What is Specialist Outpatient Clinic Subsidy?
What are the benefits?
Who is eligible?
How do I apply?

What is Specialist Outpatient Clinic Subsidy?

The Ministry of Health provides subsidies for care provided in Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOCs) at our public hospitals to ensure that patients have access to more affordable care.

What are the benefits?

Singapore Citizens are eligible for up to 70% subsidies, while Permanent Residents are eligible for 25% subsidies.

Subsidy levels are determined through household means-testing using Monthly Per Capita Household Income (PCHI)1 to account for the overall financial resources of the household to support the household members. For households with zero PCHI, the Annual Value2 of their residential property is used to determine subsidy levels.

Patients receiving private inpatient care, day surgery and day operation services will be eligible to opt for subsidised follow-up outpatient appointments.

The current SOC subsidy levels for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents are shown below:

Current SOC Subsidy Level

Monthly Per Capita Household Income (PCHI)1

Singapore Citizen

Permanent Resident

No PCHI

Annual Value2 ≤ $21,000: 70%

$21,000 < AV ≤ $25,000: 50%

Annual Value > $25,000: 30%

25%

$0 < PCHI ≤ $1,500

70%

$1,500 < PCHI ≤ $2,300

60%

$2,300 < PCHI ≤ $3,600

50%

$3,600 < PCHI ≤ $7,000

40%

PCHI > $7,000

30%

Effective as of 1 Oct 2024

1 Monthly PCHI is computed as the total gross household monthly income divided by the total number of family members living together in the household. Gross monthly household income includes basic employment income, trade/self-employed income, overtime pay, allowances, cash awards, commissions, and bonuses.

2Annual Value is the estimated gross annual rent of a property if it were to be rented out, excluding furnishings and maintenance fees. It is determined by IRAS, and may be checked via IRAS website. Subsidy levels in 2024 will be determined using 2023 Annual Values.

Who is eligible?

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are referred from eligible referral sources are eligible for Specialist Outpatient Clinic subsidies. Examples are:

  • A&E

  • Inpatient

  • Day surgery

  • Subsidised SOC

  • Polyclinics

  • CHAS GP clinics

The above list of eligible referral sources is not exhaustive. You are encouraged to check with your healthcare providers on your subsidy eligibility.

How do I apply?

No application is required. Subsidies will be automatically accorded based on your means-test status for each episode.

You may request for more information through your public healthcare institution or healthcare service provider.

For more questions, check out our FAQs at AskMOH.