Singapore aims to be medical health care destination
Singapore aims to be medical health care destination
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
When Emanuel from Manado, North Sulawesi, was diagnosed with
glaucoma he could not find a hospital in Indonesia able to treat
him, so he ended up traveling to Singapore for care.
Emanuel, 40, an entrepreneur, was satisfied with his treatment
in Singapore, where it took just one hour to treat his eye
problem.
He could have ended up losing his sight had he not flown to
Singapore for treatment. "Singapore has sophisticated medical
technology, which allow doctors to treat patients accurately and
efficiently," he said.
Emanuel is one of many Indonesians who have sought medical
treatment in Singapore and who have returned home singing the
praises of the medical system in the neighboring country.
The Singapore government has made it its mission to establish
the country as a regional medical hub and health care
destination.
In line with this mission, dozens of hospitals in Singapore
continue to enhance their quality in terms of medical service,
expertise, equipment, facilities and research and development to
lure international patients.
In terms of R&D, for instance, the government and private
hospitals team up with reputable medical institutions, such as
Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Pennsylvania University
Medical Center, Stanford University Hospital and Massachusetts
General Hospital, to seek further breakthroughs in medical
research and development.
Singapore is also developing a strong local capability in
complex procedures such as organ transplants, assisted
reproduction, limb reattachments and join replacements.
"Medical treatment, such as the use of laser technology, is
constantly tested and introduced," said www.singaporemedicine, a
website specializing in providing information on Singapore health
care issues.
It added that over the years Singapore has achieved a health
care service level comparable to that in developed western
countries.
The most recent achievement was made in 2004 when Singapore
doctors and dentists successfully completed a revolutionary two-
stage "tooth-in-eye" surgical procedures to help a blind boy to
see. "This is believed to be the first operation of its kind in
Southeast Asia," the website said.
Among Singapore's top hospitals are Mount Elizabeth Hospital,
Gleneagles Hospital, East Shore Hospital, Raffles Hospital,
National University Hospital (NUH), Pacific Healthcare, Thomson
Medical Center and Mount Alvernia Hospital.
National University Hospital, for instance, prides itself on
its patient services and is well known for specialized clinical
disciplines, including obstetrics and cardiothoracic surgery,
according to singaporemedicine.com.
Collectively, Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles and East Shore,
which are under the Parkway Group Healthcare management, have
performed the largest number of cardiac surgeries and
neurosurgeries in the private health care sector in the region.
They provide treatment for a mix of medical conditions and
specialties, in areas such as cardiology, andrology, urology and
oncology.
Gleneagles of Parkway Hospital runs the Asian Center For Liver
Disease and Transplantation that features two main facilities -
the liver ICU and the liver transplant program.
The hospital's living donor liver transplant (LDLT) program
director, Dr. KC Tan has succeeded in conducting liver donor
liver transplant for popular film star Andrea de Cruz, and also
the one who managed to lead the surgery to separate conjoined
twins Anggi and Anjeli recently at Gleneagles Hospital.
Most hospitals in Singapore are equipped with sophisticated
medical equipment.
Raffles Hospital's diagnostic facilities, for instance,
features the latest imaging system such as CT and MRT. The
hospital provides service under Raffles Hospital's Group Practice
Model. It delivers medical services of the highest order from
complex neuro-surgical management to aesthetics and plastic
surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, specialized orthopedic and
spinal surgery and bariatric surgery.
Raffles Hospital also features operating rooms especially
equipped for a complete range of surgeries from minimally
invasive surgery to cardiac surgery.
Singapore is able to offer the complete spectrum of health
care services from primary care such as health screening, to
quaternary care services such as organ transplants. Hospitals try
to be cost-competitive in order to capture the international
patient market, said a spokesman for a hospital, who preferred to
remain anonymous.
Indonesians go to Singapore to seek the whole range of medical
services, from health screening services to treatment of complex
diseases.
Many also come there for a broad range of specialist care like
general surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, cardiology,
cardiotherapic surgery, gynecology, neurology, neurosurgery and
oncology.
With tourism becoming one of the country's vital sources of
revenue, the Singapore government includes health care as a part
of the tourist industry and most hospitals cater to medical
tourism.
Raffles Hospital's rooms, for instance, are designed and
outfitted with hotel-standard comforts and furnishings. They come
with attached bedrooms, televisions, telephones and room safes.
In a typical health tourism package, hospital staff arrange
airport transfers, book relatives into nearby hotels and even
organize local tours. More luxurious packages can include a
massage at a spa as well as dinner at an elegant restaurant.
To grab international patients, several Singapore hospitals
have set up international patient service centers in many
countries, including in Indonesia. They include Parkway Group
Healthcare, Raffles Hospital and Pacific Healthcare Holdings.
These international patient service centers provide services
ranging from translation to the arrangement of accommodation.
Such a service provides peace of mind, especially for patients
who are new to Singapore.
Singapore aims to draw one million foreign patients to the
country by 2012.
According to a government study, this target could potentially
generate S$2.6 billion in revenue, adding about 1 percent to
Singapore's gross domestic product.