A strategic approach to managing community health and expanding preventive care
Singapore’s healthcare clusters will take on the role of “regional health managers” under the Healthier SG initiative, overseeing the health of residents within their respective regions and spearheading more community-based health interventions, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Monday (Sep 26). This follows the submission of a White Paper on the strategy to Parliament last week, which will be debated in October.
Healthier SG aims to empower residents to take charge of their own healthcare by enrolling with a single healthcare provider — either a general practitioner or a polyclinic doctor — who will guide them through their health journey over the course of their lives. The initiative is designed to make healthcare more holistic and personal.
Singapore’s healthcare system is divided into three clusters: The National University Health System (NUHS), which serves the western region; the National Healthcare Group (NHG) in the central region; and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) in the east. As regional health managers, these clusters will focus on the health needs of residents within their geographical areas, expanding their role beyond just managing hospitals and polyclinics.
Minister Ong stated that while the clusters have already been involved in community health interventions, this role will increase significantly in the future. The Ministry of Health (MOH) will work closely with the clusters to adopt a “strategic, holistic and system-level perspective” to improve public health. This approach will involve addressing the social determinants of health, such as living conditions, education, employment, and diet, which have a significant impact on physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Additionally, MOH will focus on linking healthcare data from both clinical and community settings to identify which social interventions are most effective in improving health outcomes. By collaborating with community partners, the healthcare clusters will play a key role in shaping the nation’s health strategies.
Minister Ong also mentioned that although residents may have established relationships with doctors in hospitals outside their residential clusters, MOH will adjust the financial allocation between clusters to account for differing healthcare usage patterns, ensuring flexibility for patients.
The Healthier SG initiative is part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to prepare for the challenges posed by an ageing population. While the COVID-19 pandemic tested the healthcare system, Minister Ong stressed that the true challenge lies in the long-term health decline due to an ageing demographic, which could span several decades.
