Implementation Of Casemix In The Public Sector

01 Oct 1999

In line with the 1993 White Paper on Affordable Healthcare, the Ministry of Health is implementing casemix in Singapore in pursuit of both better quality and affordability of health care. Casemix was first piloted in public hospitals since May 98. The pilot phase has been successfully carried out. With effect from 1st October 1999, all day surgery and in-patient services seen in public sector hospitals with the exception of Woodbridge Hospital and Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital will be funded using the Casemix system. Outpatient services, rehabilitation services and other programme-based services are not affected.

Casemix is a classification system that groups diseases according to their clinical meanings and the amount of resources needed to treat them. It is a tool that enables public hospitals to be funded more accurately for the work done. It encourages our hospitals to better manage resources more effectively, search for more efficient and cost-effective treatments whilst controlling healthcare costs and providing good quality medical care. Casemix provides a wealth of information that will help healthcare providers strengthen quality assurance and medical audit processes. It will facilitate benchmarking and best practices in our hospitals. With better cost control, healthcare can continue to remain affordable to all Singaporeans.

The Ministry assures all Singaporeans that the Health budget will be not be reduced as a result of introduction of casemix in Singapore. The level of subsidy will remain unchanged even as Casemix is being implemented. The existing Medisave withdrawal limits for hospitalisation will presently remain unchanged as these are not affected by the new subvention system. Over and above the National Medical Audit Programme implemented last year, the Ministry will continue to enhance its range of Quality Assurance programmes to ensure that the quality and standard of medical care would not be adversely affected.

For information on Casemix, members of the public may access the Ministry's website at www.gov.sg/moh/casemix