Pregnancy
Citizens are entitled to sixteen weeks of paid maternity leave, with the government funding part or all depending on the child's order of birth. Delivery costs in subsidised public wards are largely met through the national medical savings scheme, which can be drawn on for both antenatal care and delivery. Paternity leave and shared parental leave are also provided.
Singapore gives sixteen weeks of maternity leave — the employer pays part and the government reimburses the rest, with the whole amount government-paid for later children — plus shared parental leave and a lengthening paternity entitlement. Delivery costs in public hospitals are largely met from MediSave, the compulsory medical savings account, which means most citizens pay little in cash.
Key points
| Maternity leave | Sixteen weeks for eligible citizens, partly government-funded |
|---|---|
| Paternity leave | Government-paid, with shared parental leave available |
| MediSave | Can be used for antenatal care and delivery, within withdrawal limits |
| Subsidised wards | Public hospital classes with substantial subsidy for citizens |
| Baby Bonus | Cash gift and matched savings account for eligible children |
| Eligibility | Entitlements depend on the child's citizenship and the parents' marital status |
| Private care | Widely used, with significantly higher costs |
In practice
- Check the MediSave withdrawal limits before choosing a hospital class: the gap can be substantial.
- Entitlements depend on the child's citizenship — confirm your position early if either parent is a foreigner.
- Apply for the Baby Bonus before the birth where possible.
- Polyclinics provide subsidised antenatal care at much lower cost than hospital clinics.
Cost and coverage
Subsidised public care plus MediSave covers most of the cost for citizens; private care is considerably more expensive.
Recent changes
Shared parental leave has been introduced and paternity leave doubled, with the government funding the additional weeks, as part of a package aimed at encouraging fathers to take time off.
Where to go
- Polyclinics for subsidised antenatal care.
- Public hospital maternity departments.
- Baby Bonus and government-paid leave schemes.
Worth knowing
Several entitlements depend on the child's citizenship rather than the mother's residence. In mixed-nationality families that distinction can change the amounts substantially.
Frequently asked questions
How is maternity leave funded in Singapore?
For the first two children the employer pays the first eight weeks and the government reimburses the last eight; for the third and subsequent children the government funds all sixteen. Eligibility depends on the child being a citizen and on a service period with the employer.
What does a delivery cost?
In a public hospital, most of it can be paid from MediSave up to set withdrawal limits, leaving a modest cash balance. Private hospitals cost considerably more. Foreigners without subsidy pay unsubsidised rates, which are several times the citizen figure.
The general article: Pregnancy · Compare with another country
Sex therapy
Singapore regulates doctors through the Singapore Medical Council but has no statutory registration for psychologists, counsellors or psychotherapists: the Singapore Psychological Society and the Singapore Association for Counselling keep voluntary registers. “Sex therapist” and “sexologist” are unregulated terms. Accountability therefore rests on the doctor's licence or on voluntary registration.
Qualified sexual-health care is concentrated in the public hospitals: urology and men's-health clinics, gynaecology, endocrinology and psychiatry, reached by polyclinic referral with subsidised fees for citizens and permanent residents. The Department of STI Control clinic handles infections. A few hospital psychologists and psychiatrists offer sex therapy; the private sector has a small number of psychologists and counsellors with overseas sex-therapy training, often AASECT-certified or trained in Australia.
Costs are cushioned by subsidies in the public system, less by insurance. MediSave can be used for outpatient psychiatric treatment of listed chronic conditions, such as depression and anxiety, but sexual dysfunction is not on the list; MediShield Life and integrated shield plans cover hospitalisation rather than outpatient therapy. A private session with a psychologist or sex therapist costs roughly 150 to 300 dollars, a private specialist consultation similar or more.
Employers' group insurance sometimes includes a mental-health outpatient benefit; check the policy.
Key points
| Title | Unregulated; psychologists and counsellors on voluntary registers only |
|---|---|
| Regulated profession nearby | Doctors (Singapore Medical Council) |
| Voluntary registers | Singapore Psychological Society; Singapore Association for Counselling |
| Public care | Hospital urology, gynaecology, psychiatry via polyclinic referral, subsidised for residents |
| MediSave | Outpatient psychiatric care for listed chronic conditions; sexual dysfunction not listed |
| Private cost | About 150–300 dollars a session |
In practice
- Ask a polyclinic for a referral to a public hospital: subsidised specialist fees apply and the pathway covers urology, gynaecology and psychiatry.
- Check the SPS or SAC register for a psychologist or counsellor, and ask about specific sex-therapy training.
- Ask whether your employer's insurance carries an outpatient mental-health benefit.
- For infections, the DSC Clinic is the confidential public service.
Cost and reimbursement
Public specialist with referral: subsidised fee. Private psychologist or sex therapist: 150–300 dollars, out of pocket. MediSave and shield plans rarely apply to outpatient therapy.
What has changed recently
Mental-health benefits have been widening — MediSave use for outpatient psychiatric treatment was expanded — but sexual dysfunction remains outside the listed conditions, and no registration of psychologists has been enacted.
Where to go
- Singapore Psychological Society and Singapore Association for Counselling: voluntary registers.
- Public hospital urology, gynaecology and psychiatry clinics via polyclinic referral.
- DSC Clinic: sexually transmitted infections.
- Singapore Medical Council: register of doctors.
Worth knowing
With no statutory register, a “certified sex coach” and a hospital-trained psychologist can display the same words. Ask for the underlying qualification and register.
Frequently asked questions
Are sex therapists regulated in Singapore?
No, and neither are psychologists or counsellors by statute; only doctors are licensed. Voluntary registers exist.
Can I use MediSave for sex therapy?
No. MediSave covers outpatient psychiatric care for listed chronic conditions; sexual dysfunction is not among them.
Where is the cheapest qualified care?
In the public hospitals, through a polyclinic referral, with subsidised fees for citizens and permanent residents.
Sources
- Singapore Psychological Society — register of psychologists
- Singapore Association for Counselling — registered counsellors
The general article: Sex therapy · Compare with another country
Mental health
Subsidised care at polyclinics and the national institute, plus a well-built online triage service.
Mental health care sits within the subsidised public system: polyclinics handle common conditions and refer on, and the national psychiatric institute provides specialist and emergency care. A government-backed online platform offers self-assessment, resources and a route to text or call for support. Community intervention teams operate across the island. Subsidies and public health financing schemes keep costs moderate for citizens and permanent residents.
Singapore has built an unusually clear front door: an online triage and appointment service that directs people to the right level of care, alongside subsidised consultations at polyclinics and at the national psychiatric institute. Costs are subsidised for citizens and permanent residents and can be partly met from MediSave. Stigma, rather than availability, is the barrier most often reported.
Key points
| Polyclinics | Subsidised first point of contact for common conditions |
|---|---|
| National institute | Specialist and emergency psychiatric care |
| Online platform | Government-backed self-assessment, resources and support channels |
| Community teams | Outreach and early intervention across the island |
| Subsidies | Substantial for citizens and permanent residents |
| Employment | Disclosure rules have been progressively narrowed |
| Involuntary treatment | Governed by the Mental Health Care and Treatment Act |
In practice
- Start at a polyclinic: the subsidy is significant and the referral onward is straightforward.
- The national online platform offers an anonymous first step and a text channel.
- Community intervention teams visit at home in some circumstances.
- Public financing schemes can be used towards approved outpatient treatment.
Cost and coverage
Substantially subsidised for citizens and permanent residents; foreigners pay unsubsidised rates.
Where to go
- Polyclinics, for a subsidised first consultation.
- The national psychiatric institute, for specialist and emergency care.
- National online mental health platform and helplines.
Worth knowing
Fear of consequences at work keeps people from seeking help. Disclosure requirements have been narrowed significantly, and a past episode of treatment is not, in general, something an employer may ask about.
Frequently asked questions
Where should someone start in Singapore?
With a polyclinic, which can treat milder difficulties and refer onward, or with the national online triage service, which assesses need and books an appointment at the appropriate level. The Institute of Mental Health operates a 24-hour helpline for urgent situations.
What does treatment cost?
Subsidised consultations at polyclinics and public institutions cost a modest amount for citizens and permanent residents, with MediSave usable for some outpatient psychiatric treatment. Private psychiatry and psychology cost substantially more, commonly S$150 to S$350 a session.
The general article: Mental health · Compare with another country
Dental care
Subsidised care in polyclinics, Medisave for surgical procedures, and a high-quality private sector.
Dental care at government polyclinics is subsidised for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, with higher subsidies for Pioneer and Merdeka Generation cohorts and for CHAS cardholders. Medisave, the compulsory medical savings account, may be used for certain dental surgical procedures — wisdom tooth surgery, some implant surgery — but not for routine fillings, cleaning or cosmetic work.
The Community Health Assist Scheme gives means-tested subsidies at participating private dental clinics for common procedures, which widens access considerably.
Private fees are high by regional standards, and many residents travel to Johor Bahru in Malaysia for major work, an hour away, at a third to a half of the price.
The National Dental Centre and the National University Centre for Oral Health handle complex and specialist cases.
Whitening is offered widely in clinics; over-the-counter products are regulated by the Health Sciences Authority.
Key points
| Polyclinics | Subsidised for citizens and permanent residents |
|---|---|
| CHAS | Means-tested subsidies at participating private clinics |
| Medisave | Usable for some dental surgery, not for routine or cosmetic work |
| Private | High fees; cross-border travel to Johor Bahru is common |
In practice
- Check your CHAS eligibility: the subsidy applies at many ordinary private clinics, not only at polyclinics.
- Ask whether a procedure is Medisave-claimable before it is done, and by how much.
- For complex work, the National Dental Centre offers specialist care at subsidised rates on referral.
Cost and coverage
Polyclinic examination S$20–S$40 subsidised. Private examination S$50–S$120. Crown S$900–S$1,800. Implant with crown S$3,500–S$6,000.
Recent changes
Subsidy schemes for older cohorts have continued to be extended, lowering out-of-pocket costs for routine care.
Where to go
- Government polyclinics, dental services.
- CHAS participating clinics.
- National Dental Centre Singapore.
- Singapore Dental Council register.
Worth knowing
Medisave cannot be used for cleaning, fillings or whitening. Clinics sometimes imply otherwise; ask for the procedure code and the claimable amount in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Medisave at the dentist?
Only for certain surgical procedures, not for routine or cosmetic treatment.
Is CHAS only for polyclinics?
No, it applies at participating private clinics, which is what makes it useful.
The general article: Dental care · Compare with another country
HIV and AIDS
Subsidised treatment and anonymous testing, but PrEP is largely self-funded and immigration rules are strict.
Singapore combines a well-resourced clinical service with a restrictive framework. Treatment is subsidised and, since 2020, HIV medicines are covered under the national health insurance scheme. Anonymous testing is available at designated sites. PrEP is available but generally paid for privately, and work pass holders who test positive face immigration consequences.
Singapore subsidises HIV treatment for citizens and permanent residents and allows MediSave to be used for it, and anonymous testing is available at designated sites. PrEP is available but is paid for privately, and the country has moved away from earlier restrictions on entry and residence for people living with HIV.
Key points
| Treatment | Subsidised, with HIV medicines covered under national health insurance since 2020 |
|---|---|
| Anonymous testing | Available at designated sites, without providing identification |
| Named testing | Results are notifiable to the authorities |
| PrEP | Available, generally self-funded |
| Work pass holders | Face immigration consequences on a positive result |
| Disclosure | There is a legal duty to inform a sexual partner before sex |
| Community services | Action for AIDS provides testing and support |
In practice
- If you want a test without your name attached, use a designated anonymous testing site — that distinction matters here.
- Ask about the subsidy framework before starting treatment: it changed substantially in 2020.
- Community organisations provide confidential advice on immigration implications.
Cost and coverage
Treatment is subsidised and covered by national health insurance; PrEP is usually paid for privately.
Where to go
- Designated anonymous test sites.
- Action for AIDS Singapore.
- Communicable Disease Centre and hospital infectious disease services.
Worth knowing
The distinction between anonymous and named testing has real consequences, particularly for people on work passes. Understand which you are having before the sample is taken.
Frequently asked questions
Is anonymous HIV testing available in Singapore?
Yes, at designated anonymous test sites, where no identifying details are recorded and results are given in person. Non-anonymous testing at clinics is notifiable. If you want a test without it entering your medical record, use a designated anonymous site.
Hepatitis B
Universal infant vaccination since 1987, one of the earliest programmes in Asia.
Singapore introduced universal infant hepatitis B vaccination in 1987, among the first countries in the region to do so, and prevalence in younger cohorts has fallen dramatically as a result. Antenatal screening is universal, and chronic carriers are monitored through specialist services.
Singapore introduced universal infant hepatitis B vaccination in 1987, among the earliest in the world, with a birth dose for every newborn, and chronic infection among younger cohorts has fallen to very low levels. Antenatal screening is universal, and vaccination is part of the national childhood immunisation schedule, with costs payable from MediSave.
Key points
| Infant vaccination | Universal since 1987, with a birth dose |
|---|---|
| Older cohorts | People born before the programme have markedly higher prevalence |
| Antenatal screening | Universal |
| Babies of carriers | Vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth |
| Testing | Available at polyclinics and private practice |
| Treatment | Subsidised at public institutions |
| Monitoring | Regular surveillance for liver cancer in chronic carriers |
In practice
- If you were born before 1987, ask for testing: your cohort was not routinely vaccinated.
- Chronic carriers need regular ultrasound surveillance, not just blood tests.
Cost and coverage
Testing and treatment are subsidised at public institutions.
Where to go
- Polyclinics and hospital gastroenterology departments.
- Health Promotion Board for vaccination information.
- Specialist liver clinics for monitoring.
Worth knowing
Chronic carriers need liver cancer surveillance by ultrasound, typically twice a year. Blood tests alone are not sufficient, and this is often the part that gets dropped.
Frequently asked questions
Is vaccination compulsory in Singapore?
Hepatitis B is part of the national childhood immunisation schedule, which is strongly enforced through school entry requirements, and the birth dose is given as a matter of routine. Costs for scheduled vaccines can be met from MediSave for citizens.
HPV
A subsidised school programme for girls, and HPV testing every five years from 30.
Singapore introduced school-based HPV vaccination for girls in 2019, fully subsidised, alongside subsidised catch-up for young women. Cervical screening uses HPV testing every five years from age 30, with cytology for younger women, and is subsidised under national screening schemes.
Singapore funds HPV vaccination for girls through a school-based programme and subsidises it for eligible women, with MediSave usable for the cost. Cervical screening runs through the national programme with HPV testing from age thirty and cytology for younger women, and is heavily subsidised at polyclinics under the national screening scheme.
Key points
| School programme | For girls in secondary one, introduced in 2019 |
|---|---|
| Catch-up | Subsidised for young women through national schemes |
| Boys | Vaccination available privately; not part of the school programme |
| Screening 25-29 | Cytology every three years |
| Screening 30 and over | HPV testing every five years |
| Subsidy | Screening is heavily subsidised under national programmes |
| MediSave | Can be used for vaccination and screening within limits |
In practice
- Use the national screening scheme rather than a private clinic: the subsidy is substantial.
- Ask about MediSave use for vaccination if you are outside the school programme.
- From 30, ask for HPV testing rather than cytology.
Cost and coverage
The school programme is fully subsidised; screening is heavily subsidised under national schemes.
Where to go
- Polyclinics and participating general practitioners.
- Health Promotion Board screening programmes.
- School health services for the vaccination programme.
Worth knowing
Boys are not included in the school programme. If you want your son vaccinated, that is a private decision with a private cost — worth knowing in advance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does screening cost in Singapore?
Very little at a polyclinic for eligible citizens under the national screening programme, which subsidises cervical screening heavily. Private clinics charge more. Invitations and reminders are issued, so keep your contact details current with the programme.
General sources
- gov.sg — official government portal
- Singapore Statutes Online — legislation in force