Singapore

Three kids, foreign country, and you need hospital. We've been in that exact spot in Singapore.

Practical Info

Singapore has some of the best healthcare in the world. The downside is the cost. Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital, and Raffles Hospital are the top private options. Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital are excellent public institutions. For travelers, the private hospitals are faster and more convenient, but the public hospitals are absolutely first-rate too, just with longer wait times. Everything operates in English.

Cost

This is where Singapore differs from the rest of Southeast Asia. A private hospital consultation costs 100 to 300 SGD (75 to 225 USD). ER visits at private hospitals start at 200 SGD and can climb quickly if tests and treatment are needed. A night's stay in a private room runs 300 to 800 SGD. Public hospital subsidized rates are lower but still significant for uninsured foreigners. Make absolutely sure your travel insurance covers Singapore specifically, because an unexpected hospitalization here can easily run into thousands of dollars.

Practical tips

For emergencies, call 995 for an ambulance. Singapore is small enough that you can get to a hospital from almost anywhere on the island within 20 to 30 minutes. Raffles Hospital near Bugis is centrally located and easy to reach by MRT. Mount Elizabeth on Orchard Road is convenient if you're in the shopping district. For non-emergencies, the 24-hour clinics at Raffles Medical (they have multiple locations across the island including at Changi Airport) handle routine illnesses efficiently. Public hospital A&E departments triage strictly, so minor complaints mean long waits.

Language

English is the working language of all hospitals in Singapore. No language barrier at all. Medical records, consent forms, and prescriptions are all in English. Many doctors also speak Mandarin and Malay.

Where to go

All major hospitals have 24-hour emergency departments. Raffles Medical clinics at the airport and in the city center are open 24 hours for non-emergencies. Private hospital outpatient departments operate on business hours with some Saturday morning clinics.

With kids

KK Women's and Children's Hospital is a dedicated children's hospital and one of the best in Asia. If your child needs specialist pediatric care, this is where to go. The private hospitals also have excellent pediatric departments. Mount Elizabeth has a children's emergency service that's separate from the adult ER.

Hopefully this stays bookmarked and unused. But if you're in Singapore and something comes up, travel-er.app is there.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information may be outdated or inaccurate. Always call ahead to confirm. See our full disclaimer.

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Sources: WHO Singapore · CDC Travel Health: Singapore · Ministry of Health Singapore