MOH to boost palliative care capacity to 3,600 by 2025

This translates to an increase in capacity by 50%.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) aims to expand home palliative care capacity by 50% to 3,600 by 2025, an increase of 1,200 places.

The MOH will also increase inpatient and day hospice capacity by around 15% to 300 inpatient beds and 12% to 140 hospice places, respectively, by 2025.

In addition, the ministry will introduce an Equipment Rental Scheme (ERS) to provide affordable and timely access to equipment such as hospital beds and oxygen concentrators for those who wish to stay at home.

The ERS has $23m funding, to be launched by October this year. The scheme will benefit over 12,000 Singaporeans on home palliative care over the next three years.

ERS subsidies will support eligible palliative care patients with a prognosis of one year or less and receive at least 50% subsidy regardless of their monthly income.