Driving Factors to Singapore's Success in Medical Tourism

Academic Essay Cover Page

Singapore’s Medical Tourism and its Driving Factors to Success

1        Introduction

Medical tourism is defined as “the process of travelling outside one’s country of residence for the purpose of receiving medical care” (Meštrović, 2014). Medical care, in Singapore’s context, refers to health screenings as well as exclusive surgical procedures in specialised areas like cardiology and neurology (Singapore Tourism Board, 2016). In addition to affordability, medical tourists generally travel to either seek better access or a higher level of quality healthcare as compared to their home country. (Medical Tourism Association, n.d.).

According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), in 2016, Singapore was labelled as Asia’s leading destination in medical care. In 2013, it saw a revenue of SGD$832 million and in 2014, it was ranked first for having the most efficient healthcare system by Bloomberg, an organisation that delivers business and financial information worldwide. These statistics proved that Singapore has established strong fundamentals in medical care. Hence, this essay will discuss on the key factors to Singapore’s success in the area of medical tourism.

2        Key Elements to Singapore’s Success in Medical Tourism

Medical travellers choose Singapore as their ideal destination for medical care because the screenings and procedures are conducted in a pleasant, well-sanitized and protected environment. Patients need not worry about political instabilities, economic and social issues (STB, 2016). Delving further, the following three factors are believed to be the key elements of Singapore’s success in this field:

2.1        Expert Medical Practitioners

The heart which pumps life in this industry is its people. The professionalism as well as a highly proficient medical workforce is the fuel needed to propel this industry to greater distances and navigate it in the right direction. Singapore’s medical practitioners are actively involved in the mandatory Continuing Medical Education programme administered by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), a statutory board under the Ministry of Health (SMC, 2012). Implemented on 1st January 2003, this programme aims to keep medical practitioners abreast with medical advances, hence a constant relevance to the ever changing time and society.

Another relevant body is the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. Since its formation in September 2003, it now plays a pivotal role in adult learning and training with its comprehensive framework as well as its strong network of participating industries. Other than providing training to already skilled healthcare professionals who want to progress forward in their careers, it also aids individuals who want to switch to the healthcare industry to be seamlessly integrated via the Professional Conversion Programmes (Workforce Singapore, n.d.).

Having a wide range of highly sought skill sets as well as in-depth knowledge that is constantly up to date is a selling point. Coupled with professional training to adapt to medical advances in quick time draws and retains medical tourists coming to Singapore.

2.2        Highly Equipped Hospital Facilities

21 hospitals, medical centres and medical organisations in Singapore were awarded the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation (STB, 2016). A JCI accreditation is considered the gold standard in global health care (JCI, n.d.). Having a prestigious label creates brand awareness as well as increases customers’ trust in the products and services offered.

Singapore’s state of the art facilities which sees a heavy shift towards technological dependency are the buy-in factors for medical tourists. The usage of robotics in highly sensitive surgeries sets an example which highlights this industry’s drive and need to put itself among the forerunners in healthcare. The da Vinci surgical system is an excellent proof to support this statement. Singapore General Hospital was the first hospital to buy this robot in 2003. Mainly used for prostate cancer surgery, this highly sophisticated system enables patients who undergo minimally invasive surgeries to recover faster with lesser pain. (SingHealth, n.d.) The da Vinci robot is also able to handle tiny instruments inside a patient’s body with far better precision than the human hand. With this robotic technology, it changes the experience of surgeries for patients.

With the right professionals having the right tools in a conducive environment, this provides confident assurance to medical tourists seeking treatments in Singapore, knowing that the high standards here will give them a value-for-money experience.

2.3        Infrastructure

There is a need to have a medium for the people and the places to converge seamlessly together with as little interferences as possible. This essential medium is a world class infrastructure. Economic Development Board reported that in 2009, Singapore was acknowledged in the World Competitiveness Yearbook as the world’s 4th best healthcare infrastructure. A very good example to support this claim is the development of Connexion in 2013, Singapore’s first integrated medical hub. Connexion comprises of a medical centre, hospital, hotel and a lifestyle retail avenue. Combining both healthcare and hospitality, Connexion has brought up medical tourism by a notch, giving visitors full experience of both elements under one roof. Furthermore, it is built directly above Farrer Park Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Station, enabling easy access to visitors.