Singapore private hospital bills rose 13% annually from 2019 to 2024

Hospital-related fees made up 60% of bills and grew faster than doctors’ professional fees, MOH said.

Average private hospital bills in Singapore grew by about 13% per year from 2019 to 2024, according to the Ministry of Health.

Doctors’ professional fees, comprising surgeon fees, anaesthetist fees, and inpatient consultation charges, made up about 40% of private hospital bills. These fees grew by 9% annually over the same period.

Hospital-related fees accounted for the remaining 60% of bills and grew faster at 15% annually. These include facility fees, ward fees, medication, and implant charges.

MOH said Integrated Shield Plan insurers introduced panel arrangements in 2016, but panels remained small until 2019, when insurers and providers began referencing MOH fee benchmarks for surgeon and anaesthetist charges.

As of 2024, most insurers had at least 600 specialists on their panels.

MOH said rising costs in the private healthcare sector remain a concern. It has introduced measures including claim rules, enforcement against inappropriate claims, published benchmarks for hospital charges and private specialist fees, tighter Integrated Shield Plan rider design, and public education on right-sizing insurance.

The ministry said it is studying further measures through the Multilateral Healthcare Insurance Committee, which includes MOH, private hospitals, insurers, and medical professional associations.