In early 2019, I spent quite a bit of time on my multiple polyclinic trips and there’s an unexpected ROTI.

For whatever reasons, the patients at TPY polyclinic are mostly elderly. Semi-consciously I started to see myself in them, and recognized, at a physical and emotional level, the SG advantage over U.S. system, where ordinary (mid-curve) old folks get significantly less help than the wealthy old folks able to afford private health care. U.S. health care welfare targets the low-income tail of the bell curve. As the U.S. debates how to make health care more affordable, Singapore is quietly adapting and modernizing an already proven formula of efficient yet affordable health care for ordinary old folks, not only the needy.

The Singapore system is largely based on polyclinics and subsidies at public hospitals + private clinics.

Efficient yet affordable — fast, modern, well-staffed. system is less complicated, more understood.

Many would cast doubt on the waiting time and commute.

• waiting in clinic — usually 10 – 60 min.
• waiting list — However, Zeng Sheng cautioned me that older patients might hit a scarce resource constraint and longer wait. I think this is a real, tough challenge in every rich or poor countries, including Canada and Malaysia.
• commute — bus 238 is about 5-min frequency, 10-min journey from bus interchange.

Conclusion at the personal level — My recent polyclinic experiences help foster a growing self-reassure that as long as we maintain our Singapore citizenship, we don’t need to earmark a huge sum for our elderly medical needs. Until recently, I used mostly private clinics, which are still a fraction of the cost in U.S.

When I visit any U.S. service provider I often feel dis-functional, perhaps a deep-rooted bias.

I would guess very few governments take care of their ordinary old citizens so well.

Q: In 20Y when I grow old will the SG system deteriorate?
A: I have reason to believe it won’t.

I now feel the elderly medical cost + daily living is rather affordable despite SG’s reputation, but this is a feeling not really based on facts

— Oct 2020, i brought my son to polyclinic for 3 issues: 1) acne 2) jock itch 3) BMI
wait time: 5-20 minutes to see doctor. Medicine wait was 5-10m. Appointment counter wait was close to an hour.

Costs and polyclinic subsidies:

• consultation: $48 – $41 subsidy = $7 payable
• 5 medicines for acne and jock itch: $23 – subsidy = $9 payable
• total $71 – subsidy = $16 payable