Treatment abroad: Singapore 

Singapore is a leading destination for medical tourism, renowned for its world-class healthcare facilities in fields such as cardiology, oncology, and orthopaedics, offering patients high-quality care and advanced treatments in a safe and efficient environment.

Quality of care,low prices and easy travel bylow cost airlinesmakeSingapore a popular overseas health care destination formedical tourists seeking cosmetic dentistry and dental implant treatment abroad.

Surgery in Singapore: Why consider Singapore

Singapore has a mostly Chinese population along with Malay and Indian, and a growing expatriate community. In its long history Singapore has been a great trading place, a military centre and a naval base. Today it is a lively city with a world-class health system which attracts international visitors for medical treatment.

The health standardsare high inSingapore and the private hospitals are equipped with top class medical equipment – some achieving international accreditation like ISO9002 and the American accreditation, JCI (Joint Commission International). Singapore is famous for performing advanced and complex surgical procedures which from time to time have featured in world news.

Singapore’s government is helping to promote the country as a leading destination for healthcare and as well as attracting patients from nearby countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore is attracting more and more patients from the US and Europe for private medical treatment at affordable prices. As the country grows as a medical tourism destination more and more health tourism companies (which arrange a patient’s treatment, accommodation, including spa vacations, and travel to Singapore) have emerged to make the process smoother for patients.

Pre, or post-treatment, Singapore is a top destination for health tourists interested in seeking bargains and plenty of discounts can be had on top brands and electrical goods such as cameras, watches and phones. The Orchard Road area is where the best hotels and shopping centres are located.

The languages spoken in Singapore are Mandarin Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. Most Singaporeans speak English and Malay is Singapore’s national language.

Reasons to choose Singapore

Reasons to choose Singapore

Well developed healthcare tourism market

Top quality facilities with cutting edge equipment

Low costs across a range of treatments

Modern cosmopolitan destination with colonial roots

Easy to reach with low cost flights from EU and US

Safe, spotless streets with top class transport

Surgery in Singapore: Doctor training and accreditation

Singapore’s world-class private hospitals and clinics are staffed by highly qualified doctors (quite often with international qualifications) and many staff speak other languages English is widely spoken. In Singapore doctors and dentists study for their medical degree at theNational University of Singaporeand often complete their post-graduate qualifications and specialities abroad.

The MMed (Master of Medicine) is the entry qualification for advanced specialist training in Singapore. Specialist qualifications relate to the college that governs them, so for example if a surgeon qualified in the UK (as many do), they will have a specialist qualification or fellowship from theRoyal College of Surgeons(FRCS).

You can check a doctor, or surgeon’s details withThe Singapore Medical Council(the Ministry), which governs and regulates the medical profession. Singapore’sAcademy of Medicinehelps promote quality of care and high professional standards for medical professionals, listing accredited dentists, doctors and specialists in Singapore.

The Singapore Medical Associationis the national medical organisation representing practitioners in the public and private sectors.The Singapore Dental Councilis the government’s regulatory body which looks after the dental profession, andThe Singapore Dental Associationaims to foster, promote and support high standards of dental treatment.

Cosmetic Surgeons should be listed onThe Singapore Medical Council’s specialist register and be a member ofThe Singapore Association of Plastic Surgeons(SAPS), the Singapore Society for Cosmetic (Aesthetic) Surgery and, dependent on where they completed their specialisation, they could be affiliated to international associations such asThe International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery(ISAPS),The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons(BAPRAS),The European Association of Plastic Surgeons(EURAPS) orThe American Society of Plastic Surgeons(ASPS).

Before committing to treatment compare services, treatments, costs and credentials of a handful of providers and read some patient testimonials. Check out the medical team’s credentials and qualifications with theSingapore Medical Counciland find out all you can about a hospital or clinic and their international accreditations.

Surgery in Singapore: Travel and accommodation

Changi Airportis the international hub in Singapore, and a stunning, award-winning airport with three terminals and many modern facilities, located around 20km from the city centre. From the airport there is a choice of transport including the MaxiCab airport shuttle (a six seater taxi shuttle service) which offers a scheduled service from the airport roughly every 30 minutes to hotels in the city, public bus services (air con and non air con) and the MRT. The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is a super modern rail system which runs frequent (air-conditioned) airport services.

Getting to Singapore from the US, and Australasia

Singapore is a major gateway for the rest of Asia and most of the major international airlines cover the route into Singapore, including regional airline,Singapore Airlines, which has direct flights from Los Angeles and New York. Airlines flying trans-pacific includeCathay Pacific,Asiana Airlines,United Airlines,China Airlines,North West Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. On the trans-Atlantic route airlines includeBritish Airways,Emiratesand KLM. Check airline websites for their best fares and special deals. The USCheapflightswebsite is also a good resource for cheap fares.

The flying time to Singapore from New York is approximately 24 hours.

Flights from Australia or New Zealand to Singapore are plentiful andFlightcentreandSTA Travelare two good resources for cheap fares. As well as covering cheap travel between Australia/New Zealand and Singapore,Jetstar Airwaysoffers onward flights within Asia, for example, from Singapore to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia.SilkAiralso flies to 28 destinations within Asia including China, the Philippines and Indonesia. Special sale fares can be bagged to Singapore from Australia withTiger Airways, whose routes also cover China, Indonesia, India and Thailand.

The flying time from Australia to Singapore is approximately eight hours.

Getting to Singapore from the UK and Europe

Some of the major airlines covering the route from the UK to Singapore includeQantas,Air France,KLM,British Airways,Singapore Airlines, Emirates andLufthansa. Good deals can be found via websites likeCheapflightsandLastminute.

The flying time is around 14 hours from London or Amsterdam to Singapore.

Getting to Singapore by rail or road

There are daily train services between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on the route to Bangkok, Thailand. Some of the trains offer air conditioning and dining cars and also overnight sleeper carriages. VisitMalaysia Railwayfor more information. For visitors who are arriving from Malaysia it is also possible to get to Singapore by road via taxi, car or an overland air-conditioned bus. It is also possible to travel via ferry from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Getting around Singapore

Singapore has a wide choice of transportation from monorail, cable car, a comprehensive bus network with buses which will take you almost anywhere on the island, as well as the superbly modern MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). As you might expect, the metro system is clear and relatively easy to navigate. Visit Singapore’stransportwebsite for more information.

Taxis are also an inexpensive way to travel and air-conditioned cabs can be flagged down 24 hours a day on most roads. There are well-marked stands outside most hotels and shopping centres. Alternatively, why not experience a trishaw ride? These are three-wheeled bicycles for two and a very traditional (and fun) mode of Asian transport, but it is advisable to agree on a fare beforehand.

Car hire companies are available in Singapore but with such excellent means of public transport in Singapore and expensive parking fees, it is sensible to stick to the public transport.

For onward travel after treatment regional and local airlines includeSilkAir,Tiger AirwaysandJetstar Airwayscover routes between Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Malaysia.

Accommodation

Singapore offers a wide range of accommodation choices from luxury high-end hotels in the Orchard Road area to traditional Chinese family-run hotels, guest houses and home-stays. If you haven’t pre-arranged accommodation, you can visit the accommodation counter at Changi Airport (terminals one and two) for assistance in finding a hotel.

A double room in a four star hotel in Singapore starts at about €100, depending on location. The Orchard Road district and Sentosa Island are the more expensive areas and five star hotels in Singapore cost around €200 upwards for a double room with breakfast per night. Bear in mind that many medical tourism agencies will arrange accommodation for you as part of a treatment ‘package’.

Book your holiday well in advance if you are planning on visiting Singapore at the end of January or early February as your trip could coincide with the Chinese New Year and it could be harder to secure the accommodation of your choice.

Most western visitors do NOT require a visa to enter Singapore provided they have an onward ticket, a valid passport (with at least six months) and sufficient funds. Visitors will be issued with a social visit pass which is valid for between 14 and 30 days, depending on the nationality. See the country’sImmigration and Checkpoints Authoritywebsite for more information about visas.

The currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar and 1 Dollar (SGD) = 100 cent, which is available in both paper notes and coins. Check current exchange rates, but as a general guide SGD1 is equal to around €0.60.

The country code for Singapore is + 65 and the time is GMT + 8.

Surgery in Singapore: About the country

Singapore is a small island at the top of the Malay Peninsula in South East Asia. It is located approximately 100km north of the equator in south-east Asia and is a busy business and touristic destination, popular with shoppers on the hunt for a bargain and as a comfortable stop-over on a long-haul journey.

Singapore is a bustling and culturally vibrant island and a safe, fascinating place to visit with spotless streets, an impeccable metro system, one of the most impressive and architecturally interesting airports in the world. It also has an extremely low crime rate. Although Singapore’s city centre has a very modern feel with very contemporary glass skyscrapers, air conditioned shopping malls and swanky restaurants, the country’s traditional history and culture is very much alive and kicking in the ethnic streets and districts.

Although many visitors to Singapore are on their way to other exotic destinations, Singapore has plenty to offer the visitor including delicious food, excellent shopping bargains and plenty of temples, shrines and historical places of interest. Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in the region and with first-rate medical facilities and top class surgeons it is becoming quite the medical tourism destination. Patients from the UK, US and nearby Asian countries are discovering that top quality surgery and treatment is available at more affordable prices than at home.

Singapore is also known as the food capital of South East Asia so visitors can very affordably indulge in a range of Asian and Western food. The Hawkers’ Centres are based on the traditional hawkers’ street stalls and encompass a host of tasty eateries in an air-conditioned space, such as the Newton Circus food centre.

You can dine on some inexpensive and authentic cuisine like rice noodle soups and Laksa or Satay dishes, then wander the maze of streets in Chinatown or the ethnic district of Little India to see mosques, churches and Sikh temples and get a real taste of old Singapore (and quite possibly the best curry outside of India).

For a taste of Singapore’s old Colonial past, the Raffles statue overlooks the river in the old Colonial area, Empress Place and in this district you will find Parliament House, the Supreme Court and City Hall. It may seem a bit of a clich but many foreigners enjoy a visit to the Raffles Hotel (named after Sir Stamford Raffles) to sample the famous Raffles Sling cocktail.

If you are seeking rest and relaxation take a trip over to Singapore’s celebrated Sentosa Island, a popular weekend escape for Singaporeans with many hotels and attractions, like an underwater world and golf course. A cable car goes to Sentosa Island from the World Trade Centre and offers excellent aerial views of the island.

Singapore also has a handful of parks and beautiful outdoor spaces for some peace and quiet, such as the Botanic Gardens on Cluny and Holland Roads, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens by the Chinese Garden MRT or the Zoological Gardens on the island’s north side.

As far as temperatures go, Singapore is hot and humid all year round so expect high temperatures, high humidity and no shortage of rain. There are two main seasons, the northwest monsoon season is between December and March and the southwest monsoon is between June and September. If you want to avoid the rain, the driest times to visit Singapore are between February and early March. Average temperatures in Singapore range between 26 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius during the day, but it does cool down in the evenings.