Singapore to boost palliative care capacity by 50%

Inpatient and day hospice capacity have also expanded to 15% and 12%, respectively.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has set to increase Singapore’s home palliative care capacity by 50% to 3,600 places in 2025, as well as inpatient and day hospice capacity by around 15% and 12%, respectively.

The expansion follows the launch of the National Strategy for Palliative Care in July 2023, aiming to improve palliative care and support measures in Singapore.

Singapore sees a rise of the “super aged society”, prompting the MOH to improve palliative care needs and capacity. Through the refreshed National Strategy for Palliative Care, MOH has remained on track to increase to another 1,200 places by 2025, doubling the total number of home palliative care places to 3,600.

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Additionally, the strategy is estimated to reach around 300 inpatient beds and 140 day hospice places by 2025.

Since the strategy’s launch, support measures have been improved to expand palliative care to patients, such as the Equipment Rental Scheme to be launched by October 2024, careering to over 12,000 Singaporeans; enhanced financing for inpatient palliative care, home palliative care, and day hospice care; and the “Plan Today” campaign for the awareness of palliative care.