Private or public healthcare institution?

[stevexie1985]

Not sure if I am right, but I am open to new comments:

Worked in recent years in a healthcare industry. I realized one thing.
1) Healthcare industry in Singapore does not have any 'public' hospitals. They are called restructured hospitals. There operate independently from the government, just like Singtel etc. (for simplicity sake, I will use government hospitals for now)

2) Many actually says that private sector is more expensive than the government sector. However, for private patients, the consultation fee is almost the same for government and private doctors (S$150 - S$170). Besides, the waiting time for investigations, surgery etc is much faster in private sector. Thereby decreasing the time to take extra day leave etc. For example: in government sector, you might need 3 days to have an intitial consult, investigations, and a review. Another 1 week to do the operation. In the private sector, initial consult, investigations and review are normally done on the same day, at most 2 days. Surgery can be planned on the subsequent day already.

3) there are ways to minimize the cost of treatment in the private sector if we know what to request from the doctors etc. There are some smaller healthcare providers whom have marketing staffs who are very service oriented. Tell them your concerns and they might be able to help you and give you personal advice as well. However, that hardly happens in the government sector as the rules are not flexible as well.

4) Choosing the correct doctor is important. I saw many people asking who to see for a certain medical condition. instead, talk to someone who is working in the healthcare industry as many doctors are further divided in sub-specialty. For example, I saw a person referring another person to see a gynaecologist for pregnancy. Little does she knows that that doctor actually sub-specialized in surgery for cancer patients. Of course, we can make the situation better by referring the patient to another gynaecologist who sub-specializes in pregnancy or high-risk pregnancy.

[KKB]

I read your review. Its been sometime.

I am a 46yr old who managed to get pregnant via IVF ( not in Spore). I am now entering my 2nd trimester. I am looking for a good gynae that specializes in high risk pregnancy.

I was recommended one by the fertility clinci that did my IVF but the service is really bad and the doctor just seems to be clinical in her approach and not someone who instills trust. ( i called the clinic to ask a question about the medication that i am taking and the nurse there said that i have to relay any mesg thru her as the doctor wont take any calls. I need to come in and consult her for that 1 question... which there is a fee for)

Am worried, with my age.. i need a doctor that can handle potential complications and is also someone dedicated.

Can someone please help ...

[KKB]

I read your review. Its been sometime.

I am a 46yr old who managed to get pregnant via IVF ( not in Spore). I am now entering my 2nd trimester. I am looking for a good gynae that specializes in high risk pregnancy.

I was recommended one by the fertility clinci that did my IVF but the service is really bad and the doctor just seems to be clinical in her approach and not someone who instills trust. ( i called the clinic to ask a question about the medication that i am taking and the nurse there said that i have to relay any mesg thru her as the doctor wont take any calls. I need to come in and consult her for that 1 question... which there is a fee for)

Am worried, with my age.. i need a doctor that can handle potential complications and is also someone dedicated.

Can someone please help ...

[karltan]

Hi,



The general quality of service you get will be better from private practitioners. Thats not to say "public" healthcare will suck and theres not a possibility a private doctor will be less competent than a "public" doctor. Ive dealt with enough hospitalisation claims and see the experience of enough clients to have an opinion on this matter.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Edited by Moderator

[sundaymorningstaple]

[rrainmaker]

Hi,



The general quality of service you get will be better from private practitioners. Thats not to say "public" healthcare will suck and theres not a possibility a private doctor will be less competent than a "public" doctor. Ive dealt with enough hospitalisation claims and see the experience of enough clients to have an opinion on this matter.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Edited by Moderator

My personal experience is consistent with your opinion. Thank you for sharing from the insurance point of view.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Polly want a cracker?

[PNGMK]

My experience and that of my friends for oncology, stents, cardiology, gynae issues is to absolutely avoid the private hospitals and doctors, I've seen to many people hurt by the private system here. NUH personally is my choice. It might be slightly slower but the public system doesn't tolerate clowns - they end up in the private system where they are impossible to force out.