SEEKING OUT HEALTHCARE IN SINGAPORE

In the past few years, Asia Southeast Asia, long sought-after exotic tourist destinations for the West, has drawn the attention of travel agents, researchers and journalists
as a rapidly developing market for world-class medical tourism. According to some comparative surveys, Asian medical services have reached high global standards while keeping costs at a fraction of those in the US, UK, Canada and Europe where medical bills have recently seen a steady and relentless rise. Due to the ease and affordability
of air-travel, the number of people from these countries seeking medical help abroad
is increasing, thus contributing to the development of medical tourism in Asia.

Singapore, one of the most advanced and prosperous countries of the Southeast Asia, is also in the game. It has been a popular medical destination for a while now, with patients coming mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia or Australia. Today, there are more and more Russians among those coming to Singapore for health screening or surgery. For Russians, medical tourism is no news: to get their teeth fixed, they go to Switzerland or Austria, Germany is known as a destination for those with heart diseases, and the faraway Thailand has been popular with Russians as a plastic surgery hub.

But now Russians are discovering Singapore which previously had been viewed
as a distant exotic land with nothing to offer except for beaches and palm trees.
With Russia’s best medical facilities situated mainly in Moscow, nowadays one
of the most expensive cities in the world, it is much cheaper for Russians to seek medical help in Singapore.

Besides, going to a foreign land, regardless of the initial purpose, is always beneficial, for it introduces a tourist to a new country, its culture, customs and whatever else urges ordinary globe trotters to explore.

1. Price for Health

One of the major factors a medical tourist has
to consider is the cost. The largest contributor
to cost would be the actual medical expenses – specialist consultations, health screenings, various procedures or surgery. Josef Woodman,
an American researcher, spent 7 years investigating medical facilities around the globe, which resulted in his book Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism. According
to the book, Singapore boasts one of the most technologically advanced medical services
with the costs at a fraction of those
in the US or Europe.

In all fairness, Singapore is noted as the most expensive country of Asia and Southeast Asia. Taking a look at the comparative table featured in Woodman’s book, one can immediately notice that medical costs in Singapore are 10 % higher than
in other countries of the region. On the other hand, the same table clearly shows that patients treated in Singapore pay up to 10 times less than those in America or Europe.

Comparative costs for medical surgeries in the USA and some leading medical destinations of Asia (in US dollars):

Source: Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism by Josef Woodman. P. 8.

But let us ask ourselves: Is the 10 % increase too big a price for what Singapore
as a country has to offer to visiting foreigners? Unlike the Philippines or Thailand, Singapore is free from coup d’etats or other political turmoil that could endanger
a foreigner’s life. Singapore’s streets are clean from both rubbish and homeless beggars who can be quite a nuisance for tourists visiting India. In Singapore, one can drink tap water and breathe normally without the risk of inhaling the elements
of the entire periodic table – just the opposite would be in Manila or Mumbai.
The crime rate in Singapore is almost non-existent in comparison to neighboring Malaysia. Last but not least, Singapore has more than enough tourist attractions, cultural events and interesting or even wild nightlife for foreign patients not to get bored after they are done with the medical routine for the day.

Well, the 10-percent surcharge does not seem that high a cost after all, does it?
It obviously goes with the territory: the most advanced, cleanest and safest country
of the Southeast Asia, Singapore obviously uses the surplus in a wise way.

2. Travel Expenses

Apart from the medical costs, a foreign patient faces the same array of expenses
as an ordinary tourist: air-tickets, visas, hotel accommodation, meals, entertainment, excursions and shopping. As for hotels, in Singapore they are much cheaper than
in Europe. For instance, a night at a 3-star hotel in Paris in the vicinity of Champs-Elysees would cost you 250–300 euros; in Singapore the same sum would accommodate you in one of the top-notch hotels in Orchard Road
(the shopping artery of the island) or in the magnificent colonial Fullerton Hotel
in the heart of Singapore’s historic centre.

Another factor to consider is the duration of a medical tourist’s stay which is determined by the local doctor’s ‘verdict’ which may not coincide with that of your Russian practitioner. Thus, be ready to be flexible with your travel arrangements.
For general health screening, 1–3 days is needed. If you require an operation you may need 2 to 30 days to recuperate, depending on the type of surgery. For those in need
of chemotherapy, the stay may extend to several weeks or even months. In that case, we would recommend staying in Service Apartments since it would be easier on your pocket than staying in a hotel for the same period of time. Besides, the services provided are excellent and more comprehensive than in hotels. Such apartments normally come with a bedroom, a living-room and a fully equipped kitchenette,
free Internet access, and a butler service 24/7.

3. Lost in Translation

English is one of the four state languages in Singapore (other three are Malay, Mandarin and Tamil). Having heard that Singapore is a generally English-speaking country, many Russian tourists – some with only basic knowledge of English,
some speaking it rather fluently – would tend to rely on their own language competency to get by in Singapore. A rather rash and presumptuous assumption! That is because the English of Singapore is a unique blend of English with various Chinese dialects still widely spoken here. The interference o the languages is so strong that most of the norms of the English language – grammatical, phonetic and syntactical – are broken
to the point that even to the British and Americans it sounds as gobbledegook at first. Even they have to strain their ears and sometimes use their creative thinking
to understand this local speak which is known as Singlish. Numerous borrowed words from Malay and some Indian dialects add to the problem. Even such highly-educated people as medical doctors speak English with some accents characteristic of the racial group they belong to.

Tips for medical tourists:

All these peculiarities of Singlish are so significant that you may want to think
of hiring an interpreter, whose fee in Singapore today is US$ 35–60 per hour.
Quite steep but trust us, it is worth each cent. A qualified, knowledgeable interpreter who has resided in Singapore for some time and is used to the local English, would not only ensure an adequate communication between you and your local doctor,
but would also be a priceless source of information to you. He or she would help you buy a top-up Sim card with a local number for your telephone, or make sure that your hotel accommodation is up to your standards, and may even drive you in their own car around the city to facilitate your shopping or sight-seeing.

But you must be aware that not every person who knows English is capable
of providing a quality translation/interpretation service. Unfortunately, there are far too many Russians in Singapore who claim the title, regardless of the fact that translators and interpreters are professionals who have invested years and dollars
in their education and training. If literary translation is akin to art, oral interpretation
is at least a craft which requires constant honing and upgrading, like many other professions.

It is important to understand that a medical translation/interpretation is a rather specific area which requires adequate knowledge of relevant terminology in both languages,
as well as being at ease with such aspects as anatomy, chemistry, diagnostic equipment, etc. That is why we would highly recommend inquiring before your arrival at Singapore on the person who would be interpreting for you and on his/her qualifications
and academic background. Remember: An interpreter’s error might cost you dearly – your health.

4. Health Travel Agent to the Rescue

If you wish to avoid the hassle of arranging a trip to another country and can afford additional costs, you may refer to a representative office of the Singapore clinic you
are going to or to independent, Singapore-based, Russian-speaking agents who specialize in medical tourism.

Typically, services provided would include assistance with applying for a visa (Russians are usually issued a 2-year multiple entry visa allowing a short say
of 30 days), and arranging for accommodation and a qualified interpreter.
The representative office or independent agents will also make appointments
with the necessary medical specialists before your arrival to Singapore and help
to coordinate the exchange of medical data (X-rays, scan images, test results, specialists’ reports, etc.) between your doctors at home and in Singapore.

The advantage of seeking assistance with a Singapore-based Russian firm is that
its staff would be at your disposal throughout your stay to facilitate the process
and help resolve any issues or difficulties that may occur. 

Should you have any queries on medical treatment in Singapore,
feel free to contact The Russian Singapore at medicine@meridian103.com
or by phone: +65 907 60875