Public health care coverage is financed by two policies – individual responsibility and affordable healthcare for all. Government subsidies, individual private savings and a group of insurance schemes known as the “3Ms” (Medisave, MediShield and MediFund) system, help finance the citizens’ health care coverage. Medisave, a mandatory medical savings program, requires workers to contribute a percentage of their income to a personal account, with the same amount contributed by employers. MediShield is a health insurance scheme that supplements Medisave to help meet medical expenses of major or chronic illnesses. MediFund, on the other hand, is a government fund that aids citizens who received treatment in a Medifund-approved institution and cannot afford the expenses even with government subsidies, Medisave and MediShield coverage. Besides this, several private insurance options are available to citizens that supplement the MediShield plan and are funded by Medisave accounts. Other premium plans not covered by Medisave funds can also be opted for alongside the insurance provided by employers.
The health system is organized such that the administration overseen by the MoH is distributed amongst various statutory boards and healthcare institutions. Statutory Boards include the Singapore Medical Council, Singapore Nursing Board and Singapore Pharmacy Council to name a few. Registered nurses made up the largest share of medical staff in 2019, followed by enrolled nurses, non-specialist and specialist doctors, and pharmacists. Healthcare facilities run by the public and private sectors as of 2019 included: 19 acute care hospitals, 9 community hospitals, over 50 nursing homes, nearly 256 pharmacies and several polyclinics.
With regard to diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and measles, the number of reported cases had reduced considerably in 2018. The number of dengue cases decreased in 2017, but rose again in 2018. Latest reports show that an even higher number is expected for 2019. However, as in nearly all other countries, the Covid-19 virus also hit Singapore hard with over 3700 confirmed cases as of June 2020. It remains to be be seen how the health sector is going to deal with that crisis and if there will be long term impacts on Singapore's current state of health.
