Private hospitals clamour for greater support in Singapore

 20-May-16, Singapore Business Review

Modernisation at ASEAN hospitals is a key threat. Private healthcare providers need booster shots from the government in order to help them cope with the dwindling number of medical tourists.

Image: Singapore Business Review

Experts and industry players noted that Singapore's hospitals are up against stiff competition from their counterparts in the ASEAN. As more Southeast Asian hospitals modernise, the city-state is slowly losing its appeal as a medical tourism hub.

For instance, Indonesian healthcare providers are aggressively investing in new facilities and equipment, said Dr. Beng Teck Liang, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Medical Group. This trend is among the culprits behind the sharp drop in Indonesian medical tourist arrivals, and has exacerbated the impact of the weak Indonesian rupiah.

“It's a given. In markets like Indonesia and Vietnam, we're going to see a progressive improvement in the healthcare sector, which will result in fewer patients heading to Singapore,” Beng said.

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