Specialist clinics will help public hospitals with patient load
The six specialist clinics set up in private hospitals by Singapore's public healthcare institutions will help to free up space in the public hospitals to see subsidised patients.
Mr Gerald Giam speaking in Parliament
SINGAPORE: The six specialist clinics set up in private hospitals by Singapore's public healthcare institutions will help to free up space in the public hospitals to see subsidised patients.
In a written parliamentary reply to Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam, Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said such clinics also help to retain talent who would otherwise have left for the private sector.
Mr Gan said there are 44 part-time doctors and 13 nurses practising in these clinics.
He said the doctors spend about 15 per cent of their time on average in these clinics, but they continue to see subsidised patients and fulfil other commitments such as mentoring and teaching of medical students and junior doctors in the public hospitals.
Mr Gan said the operating costs of these specialist clinics, including rental, are fully funded by the revenue generated from these clinics and no government subsidy is provided.
He added that there are no plans to set up new specialist clinics in private hospitals.
