Ensuring Good Distribution of GP Clinics Offering 24-Hour and After-Office Hours Services

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2541
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 06 FEBRUARY 2024

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan
MP for Pioneer 

Question No. 5687

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will look into ensuring that there is a good distribution of general practitioner (GP) clinics which offer 24 hours and after-office hours services across constituencies and precincts, so that there is affordable and accessible after-hours GP assistance instead of taxing on acute hospital services. 

Answer

1      There are more than 1,300 general practitioner (GP) clinics in Singapore, which are on CHAS (Community Health Assistance Scheme) and where Singapore Citizens can enjoy subsidies when receiving medical care.

2      Currently, about 500 CHAS GP clinics operate after-office hours, with 20 operating 24 hours. Extended operating hours is however a business decision made by the private GP clinics and not an MOH planning parameter. Residents in need of affordable and accessible services may search for clinics via https://www.chas.sg/clinic-locator for clinics near them and the clinics’ opening hours.