Singapore's family doctors are facing mounting pressure as chronic illness cases surge in community clinics, with further increases expected as more care moves from polyclinics into the community.
At Gryphon Family Clinic in Bedok, Dr. Mark Khoo reports a 30% rise in patients seeking preventive care and treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. He expects the workload to grow as more conditions, such as thyroid issues, become eligible for subsidies under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) and the Chronic Disease Management Programme next year.
Dr. Khoo said resources are spread thin. He relies on a Primary Care Network (PCN) for support but noted waiting times for specialized nurses can stretch to a month. He also called for more care coordinators, saying there is currently only one shared among PCNs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vincent Tok of Shalom Medical Clinic in Bras Basah Complex has seen a 10-15% rise in chronic and preventive cases. He said many clinics are struggling with existing manpower and rising operating costs, which have increased by at least 20% over the past year.
The Ministry of Health aims to reduce pressure on polyclinics by shifting care upstream, but GPs warn the strain is being transferred to smaller clinics. Last year, the government increased grants for family clinics by 52% to S$350 million, averaging over S$140,000 per clinic. Still, doctors say more support is needed for fair remuneration and administrative manpower.