The Most Serious Stuff I Wrote since Like… Almost 4 Years Ago?

One of the most pressing healthcare issues in Singapore is that to most Singaporeans it still seems costly. This is not surprising, judging from the size of medical bill one has to pay for a simple illness such as influenza. In private clinics, people easily spend an average of SGD40 for a common cold consultation fee and medicine. The figure will even rise exponentially when surgery and hospitalization come into the picture. While lower cost alternatives like government clinics are available, other external factors, such as limited availability combined with very high demands, sometimes limit the options when choosing preferred healthcare providers.

Is this a sign that the general perception of expensive Singapore healthcare is true? Not necessarily. Singapore, with its well acclaimed healthcare financing mechanism that emphasizes on individual responsibility as well as community support, has done a very good job in making healthcare accessible for most, if not all, Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Catastrophic situations, especially those related to healthcare financing, do hit hard because many still do not make the most benefits out of the existing system, whose primary objective is actually to help them reduce the strain on their finances when disasters happen. It is really unfortunate if some people cannot get proper medical treatment only because they never put healthcare matters as something important enough to take care of thoroughly.

There are several reasons why Singaporeans and permanent residents tend to procrastinate to get their healthcare financial plan set and done. To begin with, despite of various public campaigns, many still do not truly understand what is covered and what is not in their compulsory Medisave scheme. This lack of knowledge can give a false sense of security. One easily assumes that Medisave will be enough to cover most of the healthcare costs should the needs arise, while that is not the case. Applying for Medishield, not to mention other integrated plans, is never considered a vital necessity. Private medical insurance is deemed a luxury.

This condition is worsened by the fact that sufficient information is not that easy to access after all. Materials to help better understand the framework and guidelines on how to get optimum medical coverage are still not to be found at most public places. Many government and private websites offer detailed knowledge about this matter, but even internet savvies are expected to need further assistance to choose and proceed with the most suitable healthcare plan for their individual needs.

The ones who possess the most comprehensive information and are able to help Singapore residents to plan their healthcare finances are most probably private health insurance companies. But there is a slight problem with this. In general, people are still quite reluctant to approach insurance agents or companies. There is little trust that the financial institutions will place the clients’ interest ahead of their own. Moreover, many are dreaded with the possibility of facing hard selling, which can be an inconvenient and even traumatizing experience.

So here we can see that even though the government has done a very good job in encouraging people to help themselves make healthcare more inexpensive, there are still opportunities to improve on the situation. When we narrow down the scope to what healthcare institutions such as hospitals and clinics can contribute, I believe their active participation is crucial to support the government’s move to debunk the myth surrounding pricey healthcare.

To understand this further, let us first try to do a little analysis on human nature. It is a reasonable assumption that people will most likely think about their long term health issues when there are some health related matters happening on their lives. Whether they are going to a clinic for a simple cough treatment or visiting a friend who has just undergone a surgery in a hospital, people let the concept of how important a comprehensive health plan is sink in deeper when they are in healthcare premises. It is then they have time to think about whether they have done their best to stay healthy, or whether their current health insurance is enough to cover should any sudden severe illnesses strike. Wouldn’t it be very helpful if right at that instant they can get as much information and help needed to take the next necessary steps without further delay?

There are at least two ways for healthcare institutions to take advantage of this phenomenon and assume an active role in helping the people help themselves: through education and facilitation.

Educating Singaporeans and permanent residents on how Singapore healthcare system works and the options they have to better manage their finances is essential to get them make healthcare more affordable for themselves in the long run. This can be done through an advertising campaign. If placed in the right locations, such as on a clinic waiting room, simple educational printed media like posters and leaflets are proven quite effective. A video presentation flashing on the TV screen can also be considered as a more direct approach. While waiting for their names to be called, patients will have an opportunity to make use of the time elapsed to catch some information-packed promotional materials.

On the other hand, facilitation here means making the help people need conveniently available. For instance, to promote better understanding for various products that can help Singaporeans and permanent residents in the case of major illnesses, hospitals can collaborate with healthcare insurance companies to set up an information center in the lobbies. Healthcare officers that are well versed in Singapore healthcare system and equipped with good knowledge on different products offered by a range of insurance companies can be made available there to give real time assistance to patients as well as their family and friends. This kind of program will have a higher success rate, because healthcare officers and institutions are seen as a more neutral party. People will have less resistance to come, talk, and dig necessary information from them.

Above are only two of the many things we can do to make Singaporeans capable of helping themselves using the available structure and resources. I am sure more ideas can be brainstormed and put into action. The main goal is to show and convince people that healthcare in Singapore is truly accessible and affordable for everyone, if only they know how to make the most of the system. Indeed, it is ultimately individuals’ responsibility to take care of their own health and finances. However, there are no reasons why we cannot help, making Singapore an even better place to live.