Here are 6 sickening threats to Singaporeans' health

There's an upward trend in chronic illneses.

According to the Singapore Social Health Project 2013 by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, healthcare needs in Singapore are rapidly increasing due to rise in ageing population and chronic illnesses. 

The report adds that the cost of care in Singapore has been consistently increasing with high private and out-of-pocket expenditure. Sectors, such as the Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) sector, are struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for healthcare services.

It also noted these six alarming facts about Singapore's healthcare which received a negative rating from the aforementioned study.

1. The need for healthcare has dramatically increased with ageing population, rising prevalence of risk factors as well as chronic illnesses. It is projected that by 2030, 1 in 5 people would be aged 65 and above.

This is almost thrice the current number of elderly in Singapore. Alongside, the prevalence of risk factors such as obesity (6.9% in 2004, 10.8% in 2010) and chronic diseases such as diabetes (8.2% in 2004, 11.3% in 2010) is increasing. High prevalence of these conditions reflects poor preventive health and sub-optimal lifestyles. These conditions pose an increased challenge in healthcare management. 

2. Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) services have not kept up with increasing demand. The old age support ratio in Singapore has been consistently declining (from 9.0 in 2000 to 6.7 in 2012).5 Yet the numbers of non-residential ILTC service providers have shrunk from 69 in FY2009 to 68 in FY2011.6 With smaller families and fewer caregivers available, more data is required on ILTC capacity. 

Anecdotally, community-based healthcare services are still insufficient to cater to the needs of all those who need it. 

3. Overburdened public sector heath facilities. The 2010 primary care survey revealed that 14% of General Practitioners in the public sector catered to the needs of 45% of patients with chronic illnesses as well as the primary care needs of 50% of the elderly, alongside caring for those with acute illnesses.

This implies an overworked primary care public healthcare sector. Also the bed occupancy rate in acute hospitals has been increasing (80.6% in 2010 to 84.6% in 2012). 

4. The percentage Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expenditure on health is lower than other developed countries. The percentage GDP expenditure on health for most developed countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, and the United Kingdom is roughly around 10-11%.

Singapore falls far behind these countries with percentage GDP expenditure at 4%.10 Government spending on health as a percentage of total government expenditure fell from 1.3% in FY2009 to 1.2% in FY2011.

5. Healthcare is becoming more expensive, particularly for the low-income group. The proportion of monthly household expenditure on healthcare has increased from 5.7% in 2002-03 to 6.0% in 2007-08 for the bottom 20%.

The average bills for all ward classes saw a significant increase between 2006 and 2010.

6. Private expenditure on health as a percentage of total health expenditure has increased. The private expenditure on health has increased from 55% in 2001 to 64% in 2010. Private expenditure percentage peaked at 70% in 2007. This is much higher than in other countries such as Sweden (13%), the United Kingdom (16%) and the United States (46%).

The out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of private expenditure has decreased from 95% in 2001 to 85% in 2010 but is still significantly higher than other developed countries. In countries with similar levels of out-of-pocket expenditures, the private expenditure on healthcare is significantly lower than in Singapore.