The Ministry of Health (MOH) is increasing the number of subsidised hospital beds to cope with rising demand as a result of expanding population and ageing. A total of 258 beds was added in the past two years. This year, another 34 subsidised beds will be added, bringing the total stock to 3,656 subsidised hospital beds.
A hospital in Singapore
In addition, when the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital opens next year, there will be another 330 subsidised beds.
There will also be a bigger budget for Medifund to help those who cannot foot their hospital bills.
Responding to questions on whether Singapore hospitals are overcrowded, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that the hospitals are operating at 85 per cent occupancy.
He added that almost all elective surgeries are carried out within 40 days, which is not bad.
As to the suggestion of public hospitals renting beds from private hospitals to cope with excess demand, Mr Khaw replied: "(This will be done) if (it is) necessary and if it is practical. This is because subsidised beds are open wards. For-profit private hospitals are all single rooms, double rooms, so they are quite different."
- CNA/ms
Copyright © 2009 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
March 24, 2009
SINGAPORE: MOH increasing number of subsidised beds to cope with rising demand
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SINGAPORE / Channel NewsAsia / March 24, 2009
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is increasing the number of subsidised hospital beds to cope with rising demand as a result of expanding population and ageing. A total of 258 beds was added in the past two years. This year, another 34 subsidised beds will be added, bringing the total stock to 3,656 subsidised hospital beds.
A hospital in Singapore
In addition, when the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital opens next year, there will be another 330 subsidised beds.
There will also be a bigger budget for Medifund to help those who cannot foot their hospital bills.
Responding to questions on whether Singapore hospitals are overcrowded, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that the hospitals are operating at 85 per cent occupancy.
He added that almost all elective surgeries are carried out within 40 days, which is not bad.
As to the suggestion of public hospitals renting beds from private hospitals to cope with excess demand, Mr Khaw replied: "(This will be done) if (it is) necessary and if it is practical. This is because subsidised beds are open wards. For-profit private hospitals are all single rooms, double rooms, so they are quite different."
- CNA/ms
Copyright © 2009 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is increasing the number of subsidised hospital beds to cope with rising demand as a result of expanding population and ageing. A total of 258 beds was added in the past two years. This year, another 34 subsidised beds will be added, bringing the total stock to 3,656 subsidised hospital beds.
A hospital in Singapore
In addition, when the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital opens next year, there will be another 330 subsidised beds.
There will also be a bigger budget for Medifund to help those who cannot foot their hospital bills.
Responding to questions on whether Singapore hospitals are overcrowded, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament that the hospitals are operating at 85 per cent occupancy.
He added that almost all elective surgeries are carried out within 40 days, which is not bad.
As to the suggestion of public hospitals renting beds from private hospitals to cope with excess demand, Mr Khaw replied: "(This will be done) if (it is) necessary and if it is practical. This is because subsidised beds are open wards. For-profit private hospitals are all single rooms, double rooms, so they are quite different."
- CNA/ms
Copyright © 2009 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
