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Health Financing in Singapore: A Case for Systemic Reforms
Author(s) -
Asher Mukul G.,
Nandy Amarendu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international social security review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1468-246X
pISSN - 0020-871X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-246x.2005.00234.x
Subject(s) - mainstream , pooling , health care , finance , quality (philosophy) , business , healthcare system , economics , public economics , economic growth , political science , computer science , philosophy , epistemology , artificial intelligence , law
This paper assesses Singapore's healthcare financing arrangements in terms of their efficiency, fairness, and adequacy. Singapore represents an interesting case study because it is perhaps the only high‐income, rapidly ageing country to rely on mandatory savings to finance healthcare, thus eschewing extensive risk‐pooling arrangements, generally regarded as efficient and equitable. The paper argues that parametric reforms, i.e. relatively minor changes in the parameters of current schemes which preserve the existing philosophy and system design, will not be sufficient to meet healthcare financing objectives. Systemic reforms, which will bring Singapore into the mainstream of health financing arrangements found in the OECD countries, are urgently needed. Their design and timing should be based on good quality, timely and relevant data, and an environment conducive to vigorous debate.