On 8 January 2024, the Ministry of Health (“MOH“) launched an industry consultation for a new not-for-profit private acute hospital model. Interested private healthcare operators who wished to participate in the consultation were given until 21 January 2024 to register. Presently, Mount Alvernia Hospital is the only private not-for-profit hospital in Singapore.
In its press release, MOH highlighted the need to increase Singapore’s acute hospital bed capacity in both the public and private healthcare sectors. This is due to the surge in demand for healthcare services among the ageing population in Singapore. The aim is to increase options for lower costs private hospitals to better complement public healthcare with greater options for Singaporeans. Singaporeans who wish to seek care in the private healthcare will be provided more options with the new not-for-profit private acute hospital model.
Key Features of the New Model
The key features of the new not-for-profit private acute hospital model are as follows:
(a) profits of the private acute hospital are not distributed to its shareholders and are instead reinvested to the hospital and/or for charitable and other not-for-profit activities;
(b) provides appropriate and affordable care to patients, with emphasis on cost efficiency and value;
(c) focuses on serving mainly Singapore Residents; and
(d) provides some subsidised acute bed capacity.
Successful registrants to the industry consultation will be invited to provide feedback on the proposed acute hospital requirements and attend one-to-one consultation sessions with MOH to elaborate on their feedback.
The consultation runs until April 2024.
Click on the following link for more information:
- MOH Press Release titled “Industry Consultation for a New Not-for-Profit Private Acute Hospital Model” (available on the MOH website at www.moh.gov.sg)
