Medical Tourism in Singapore

Apart from being a popular tourist destination and a regular site for couples on a honeymoon, Singapore is a developing location for medical tourism. Medical Tourism in Singapore is an upcoming field, which combines medical expertise and benefits along with a memorable holiday. It is slowly but steadily developing to be on the major sites for medical tourism in Asia. It has been recorded that Singapore attracts 200,000 patients from across the world. The government’s initiative to combine tourism along with medical practices provide world-class services, expertise and infrastructure to the tourists. Apart from being a popular tourist destination and a regular site for couples on a honeymoon, Singapore is a developing location for medical tourism. Medical Tourism in Singapore is an upcoming field, which combines medical expertise and benefits along with a memorable holiday. It is slowly but steadily developing to be on the major sites for medical tourism in Asia.

Since Singapore’s prices are still around half of what US clinics charge for the same procedures, it’s understandable that some 200,000 visitors flock here every year in search of medical, cosmetic and dental treatment. A reputation for state-of-the-art equipment and the finest surgeons, many of which are trained in the US, is also a major draw card for many would-be patients.

Singapore is a state deserving of its reputation for cleanliness, order and its ultra-high standard of private medical care. While it is by no means as cheap as say, India or Thailand, medical staff here invariably speak a high standard of English and the healthcare infrastructure is easily comparable with that of western countries.

Singapore made news for many complex and innovative procedures such as the separation of conjoined twins and tooth-in-eye surgery. The successful separation of the 10-month- old Nepalese conjoined twins in 2001 puts Singapore's medical expertise onto the World's headlines. Singapore has since accomplished many more milestones both in Asia and in the world arena.

Statistics in 2005 showed that 374, 000 foreigners sought medical treatments here. Singapore Medicine is aiming to serve one million foreign patients a year by 2012 and generate $3 billion in revenues and create at least 13,000 jobs in the medical tourism industry.

 Recently, Singapore also hosted the first International Medical Travel Conference (IMTC) from 12th - 15th December 2006. The four-day event attracted participants and media from 21 countries, setting pace and platform for the development of the budding medical travel industry. The conference aims to bring together thought leaders to examine some of the fundamentals, issues and challenges involved in the burgeoning international medical travel industry.

As of late 2006, Singapore Hospitals have mainly chosen to accredit themselves through Joint Commission International (JCI), a US-based group. This could be part of the reason why JCI has chosen to set up its Asia Pacific office in Singapore in 2006. In time, Singapore Hospitals may look towards other European or Asian-based systems of hospital accreditation in an attempt to broaden their credibility and appeal.

Singapore made world headlines when a team of doctors and medical professionals successfully separated Nepalese twins, Ganga and Jamuna, who were joined at the head, in an unprecedented operation that lasted more than 90 hours in April 2001. This is one of many breakthroughs in healthcare that have placed Singapore on the world medical map.

As a leading healthcare services hub in the region, more than 200,000 international patients come to Singapore each year for a whole range of medical care. Some come for health screening, others for eye, heart and brain surgeries. Yet others come for cancer treatment. Whether their needs are basic or complex, patients will find assurance in a world-class healthcare system that emphasises safety and pushes the boundaries of excellence.