Cross Country Comparison of Medical Costs

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2643
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 7 MARCH 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Yip Hon Weng
MP for Yio Chu Kang

Question No. 5845

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has conducted comparative assessments of similar medical procedures across different countries to understand the medical cost variations; (b) whether the Ministry can provide details on the factors contributing to higher medical costs in Singapore, particularly the role played by our healthcare insurance system; and (c) whether the Government will consider conducting bi-annual reviews of all healthcare charges to ensure they are fair and affordable.

Answer

1      Generally, it is not advisable to compare individual medical procedure costs across jurisdictions.  Quality, labour market conditions, model of care and protocols can be different.  While one treatment may be less costly in a foreign country compared to Singapore, there may be other treatments where Singapore is more affordable than the same foreign country. 

2      Ultimately, we have to moderate healthcare costs through a holistic approach, including value-based care, developing fee benchmarks, instil discipline in insurance, rely on cost effective treatment, and focusing on preventive care and population health.