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Asia Pacific Family Medicine
Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Primary healthcare system and practice characteristics in Singapore

Authors: Hwee Sing Khoo, Yee Wei Lim, Hubertus JM Vrijhoef

Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

It is crucial to adapt and improve the (primary) health care systems of countries to prepare for future patient profiles and their related needs. The main aim of this study was to acquire a comprehensive overview of the perceptions of primary care experts in Singapore about the state of primary care in Singapore, and to compare this with the state of primary care in other countries. Notwithstanding ranked 2nd in terms of efficiency of health care, Singapore is facing significant health care challenges. Emails were sent to 85 experts, where they were asked to rate Singapore’s primary care system based on nine internationally adopted health system characteristics and six practice characteristics (response rate = 29%). The primary care system in Singapore received an average of 10.9 out of 30 possible points. Lowest ratings were given to: earnings of primary care physicians compared to specialists, requirement for 24 hr accessibility of primary care services, standard of family medicine in academic departments, reflection of community served by practices in patient lists, and the access to specialists without needing to be referred by primary care physicians. Singapore was categorized as a ‘low’ primary care country according to the experts.
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Metadata
Title
Primary healthcare system and practice characteristics in Singapore
Authors
Hwee Sing Khoo
Yee Wei Lim
Hubertus JM Vrijhoef
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Asia Pacific Family Medicine / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1447-056X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12930-014-0008-x

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