Medical Tourism in Singapore: Features, Benefits & Tips

The term medical tourism has started gaining popularity since globalisation. Singapore is mainly known for being a popular tourist destination with its stunning rivers and valleys. The country has recently worked on improving the medical science infrastructure here. As a result, it has attracted people from across the globe to visit this country for medical tourism.

Are you planning for medical tourism in Singapore? Keep reading this article to get a detailed guide about it.

Medical tourism mainly refers to travelling to a different country to seek high-quality medical treatments. As compared to the past, medical tourism has clearly evolved with time. Therefore, one might perceive that it is essential for people residing in lesser developed countries who need to travel to advanced countries for better medical treatment.

However, with time, even poorer and lesser developed countries have successfully worked on their medical infrastructure. As a result, people from richer countries are often seen travelling to these countries to access affordable medical treatment and care.

Singapore's health tourism improved with the COVID-19 crisis when the healthcare systems here handled the pandemic amidst tourism competently. As a result, the medical tourism industry of Singapore is expected to reach about S$ 38 million in 2024. As of 2018, nearly 500,000 medical tourists visit Singapore annually.

Singapore has multiple JCI-accredited hospitals and offers world-class medical facilities to patients. The physicians are highly qualified and have received their affiliations from prestigious organisations like the Singapore Medical Council and Singapore Nursing Board. Compared to the US, Singapore offers affordable and budget-friendly medical treatment facilities.

Medical tourism can be essential for multiple reasons. If you are wondering about the purpose of such tourism, here are some factors to show why it is needed.

• Medical tourism helps you explore multiple healthcare options and facilities instead of settling for anything available in the home country.
• It helps you save a large amount in medical facilities, medication and overall follow-up treatment.
• Medical tourism lets you get in touch with the best specialist doctors for rare diseases and conditions.
• The waiting time for complicated medical procedures is also shorter in some countries than in most western countries.
• There is also better availability of alternative medicines and treatments with such tourism.
• It allows you to enjoy a vacation, which can improve your mental health while undergoing medical procedures.

The categories of medical tourism are mostly the same around the world. Inbound tourism refers to moving from a foreign country to the home country for medical treatment. This might seem unusual, but some tourists prefer moving to their home country if they are living in a foreign country to get better and cheaper healthcare services.

On the other hand, outbound tourism refers to the standard form of medical tourism. Here, individuals move from their home country to a foreign country for medical care. Finally, domestic tourism can also be considered here. It is a form of tourism where people move from one state to another within the home country for better healthcare facilities.

You must be contemplating choosing healthcare tourism in Singapore. Here are some features of this medical tourism to help you make a decision.

1. Cost of Treatments

Expenses are one of the first essential factors that come to your mind when it comes to healthcare. So if you are considering Singapore medical facilities, here is a highlight of its charges.

2. Accreditations of the Hospitals

Most of the hospitals in Singapore have international accreditations. There are about 21 JCI (Joint Commission International)-accredited hospitals in Singapore. Some of these hospitals include Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Raffles Hospital, National University Hospital and National Cancer Centre.

Apart from that, the local accreditations include the Singapore Health Promotion Board, the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation System (SINGLAS), the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) and the Singaporean Ministry of Health. In addition, the Singapore Accreditation Council is responsible for monitoring health facilities. This shows that the hospitals offer the best care quality.

3. Medical Facilities

Singapore is known for its high-quality medical facilities. Here are the facilities that distinguish Singapore from other medical tourism destinations.

• Qualified Medical Team: The medical team in the hospitals of Singapore receives their accreditations from authorities like the Singapore Nursing Board, Singapore Medical Council, and Singapore Dental Board. The pharmacy and the laboratory boards are also responsible for monitoring the activities of the medical team. They are highly qualified and experienced in their jobs and take extra care of the patients.
• International Health Insurance: Singapore offers medical tourists an international health insurance plan. These cover areas like dental care, maternity care, vision care, and evacuation plans. Moreover, these offer direct billing to avoid the hassles associated with claiming your healthcare expenses.
• Medical Tools and Equipment: The government of Singapore is investing in improving the medical device industry. The Health Sciences Authority (HAS) regulates and approves medical devices in Singapore. The hospitals use multiple health devices like digital X-Ray machines, PT Scan and MRI machines, catheters, pacemakers, defibrillators, and many others.

4. Research and Opportunities

Singapore has successfully become a hub for all kinds of medical research and opportunities. It has evolved as a high-end MedTech manufacturing base. Additionally, it has contributed to the development of medical science with innovative medical devices like implantable pacemakers, coat lenses and other valuable medical devices.

Singapore has about 25 R&D centers focusing solely on medical science. These are committed to developing business models keeping big data and patient-centric care in mind. The medical industry of Singapore is responsible for 60% of the microarrays and nearly one-third of the thermal cyclers and mass spectrometers worldwide.

While learning about wellness tourism in Singapore, it will be helpful to know the services primarily popular in this country. These are listed below:

• Cardiac Surgeries: These are the most common procedures in Singapore. You can avail of Coronary Angiography, Valve Replacement, Heart Bypass, CABG and other surgeries in Singapore hospitals. The procedures are high-quality and at an affordable price range.
• Orthopaedic Procedures: These are also popular in Singapore. The hospitals here offer knee replacement and hip replacement surgery. The doctors are highly qualified, and the hospitals are also authentic with international accreditations.
• Oncology: Cancer treatments are usually expensive, and most countries do not have the proper infrastructure for high-end oncology procedures. The hospitals of Singapore excel in these. For instance, it uses devices like FathomX for detecting and treating breast cancer.
• Neurology: The hospitals in Singapore offer high-end neurology services and treatments. The stem cell transplantation surgeries are world-class at the price that they offer. Surgeries like brainstem implants, brain rehabilitation, carotid endarterectomy, and others are also popular here.
• Cosmetic Surgeries: Medical tourists often visit Singapore for high-end cosmetic surgeries. The Singapore hospitals charge less for authentic surgeries compared to the US standards. These include breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, breast lift, tummy tuck, facelift, etc.
• Dental Surgeries: Dental procedures are probably the cheapest ones in Singapore, even though the hospitals and medical teams are highly reliable. The hospitals offer multiple dental surgeries and procedures like dental braces, crowns, dentures, dental implants, fillings, root canals, etc.
• Ophthalmology Services: You can always consider high-end eye care and medical procedures in Singapore hospitals. Surgeries like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachments, presbyopia, squint, LASIK, etc., are common procedures in Singapore.

If you are planning medical tourism in Singapore, it will be beneficial to know about the best places, cities and towns that offer medical services. Find out about it in the following list.

• Orchard Road: This is one of the most popular places to stay in Singapore, with a bustling city vibe. While it is mainly known for shopping facilities, there are many hospitals in this region. For instance, you can find Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Camden Medical Centre and Raffles Medical in this region.
• Downtown Core: This is another famous city in Singapore that is convenient for medical tourists. It is mainly known for the iconic Singapore Skyline. Some popular hospitals here include St Andrew's Mission Hospital, Woodlands Health Campus, Singapore General Hospital, Raffles Hospital, etc.
• Sentosa Island: This beautiful island is filled with stunning beaches and resorts. Apart from that, it offers access to healthcare services. You can easily travel to Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and National University Hospital (NUH) from this place.
• Chinatown: This city is known for its historical significance, attracting tourists annually. It has cheaper accommodation compared to the other cities. Moreover, it offers access to hospitals like Singapore General Hospital, St Andrew's Mission Hospital, etc.

If you are still unsure about going on a medical tour to Singapore, these advantages will help you make a sound decision.

• Affordable Pricing: Another advantage of Singapore healthcare facilities is its affordable pricing strategy. Here, you can access high-quality healthcare services without paying a hefty amount. This means you can ensure health treatments and procedures without worrying about high expenses.
• Advanced Medical Facilities: The hospitals offer superior facilities to look after the well-being of the patients. You will get 24/7 emergency and accident services in the hospitals. There is also a provision for a physician on call anytime in the day. The hospital staff is extremely friendly and mostly speaks English to serve international patients.

Thus, medical tourism is the ultimate choice for high-quality care in most cases. However, it is not perfect. Some of its drawbacks might result in hassles and inconvenience for medical tourists. These are listed below:

• Language and Cultural Barriers: It is always difficult to adjust to a country with significant cultural and language gaps, particularly when you are seeking medical assistance. It can be mentally exhausting. While hospitals may have English-speaking staff, it can be difficult for patients who are more comfortable in their native language. They might also fail to follow certain cultural implications.
• Lack of Professionalism: This is another cultural issue, as the standards of professionalism might differ across countries and ethnicities. If the doctors and nurses lack professionalism, the patients will be dissatisfied with the services or care quality.
• Follow-up Treatment: One of the biggest problems with medical tourism is follow-up treatment. Once you move out of the foreign country and return to your home country after the treatment, moving back there for follow-up clinical requirements will be challenging. In addition, the availability of the same doctors and nurses is also uncertain in this regard.
• Expenses and Accommodation: People usually try to save money for their medical procedures during medical tourism. However, accommodation in a foreign country can be expensive, besides other requirements. Therefore, it can be another challenge for people with a tight budget.
• Travelling Back: You will have to return to your original home country once the medical treatment is over. However, this can be problematic if your procedure is a critical one. In addition, a long journey can cause side effects, increasing medical complications.

It might not be safe to travel immediately after a medical procedure. However, it can be challenging for medical tourists to stay in a foreign country for a long time. Usually, doctors judge the current health condition, type of medical procedure and age of the patients to decide if they can travel. It is, therefore, advisable to consult the doctor before planning to move.

Even if you had a minor surgical procedure, it is advisable to wait a few weeks before travelling. It will help you avoid any possibilities of additional complications and side effects of the medical condition.

It is often difficult to move to a foreign country like Singapore for medical requirements. It is a paranoia that prevents people from trying out medical tourism. Here are some tips to ensure perfect medical tourism.

• Complete Your Research & Homework: The first step is to analyse Singapore’s current medical industry, and look into its healthcare facilities and options. Selecting the correct country for medical tourism is essential, as it is directly related to your health and well-being. Therefore, learn about multiple medical tourism destinations before making a final choice.
• Learn About the procedures: Complicated medical procedures might be conducted in different ways across countries. Moreover, the healthcare services of different countries have their strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Singapore is known for its cardiac surgeries. Therefore, select your country, keeping your health requirements in mind.
• Find Specialists: Try to look for specialist doctors and medical teams in Singapore. You can find them on different hospital websites. It will help you shorten your search for hospitals and ensure that your health will be in the best hands, even in a foreign country.
• Talk to the Hospitals: Talking directly to the hospitals of Singapore to find out the details of their services and functions is always advisable. It will help you take notes regarding their facilities, services and package details. Even though an international call can be expensive, it will be beneficial to make this call. You can find the contact details of hospitals on their official websites.
• Plan Your Expenses: You should always plan your expenses, particularly regarding the entire medical treatment procedure. For this, it will be essential to compare the prices and packages the different hospitals offer. You need to choose the best package that will benefit your health requirements. This way, you can prevent spending extra bucks.
• Book Your Accommodations: Finally, you must make the necessary bookings and reservations before moving to Singapore. Hotel bookings in advance will help you save money. For this, you can consult a travel planner, who will help you with suitable options in this regard.

Thus, medical tourism in Singapore can be beneficial to get access to high-quality medical treatment facilities. The hospitals' pricing is much lower compared to the western standards. Moreover, the quality of procedures and medical devices is impressive in Singapore, which will ensure optimum care quality.