Polyclinics



Singapore Infopedia

by Kee, Andrea

Polyclinics are healthcare centres that offer subsidised primary healthcare services to patients. These services include outpatient medical treatment, maternal and child health, preventative healthcare, health screening, diagnostic services, and health education.1 Polyclinics are located throughout Singapore in Housing and Development Board (HDB) Towns to cater to the healthcare needs of residents living there.2 

Early history
Before the introduction of polyclinics, primary healthcare services for the public were provided by outpatient dispensaries, mobile dispensaries, as well as Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Clinics.3

Singapore’s first outdoor dispensary was set up in 1884 in the Free Maternity Hospital at Queen Street, which provided health services to those living in urban areas, particularly low-income families.4 By 1976, there were 27 government-run outpatient dispensaries in Singapore.5

Maternal care and medical care for children were provided by the Maternal and Child Health Service. Home visits by MCH nurses began in 1910, and the first MCH clinic was set up in a vaccination centre on Prinsep Street in 1923.6 On the advice of Ida Simmons, Singapore’s first public health nurse, the government’s Medical Department began a mobile dispensary service to improve health conditions of those living in outlying areas.7

By 1939, the Government Health Office established a free travelling dispensary service that visited remote kampongs weekly. The medical officer would distribute medicine, dress wounds, provide diet advice and recommend further hospital treatment to villagers using the service.8 At times, medical workers travelled by boat or minibus to rural villages.9

Key developments
1960s–1975: Combined clinics
In May 1961, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the construction of polyclinics in Katong and Queenstown, which would provide outpatient, maternal and child health, and dental services.10

In January 1962, these polyclinics became known as combined clinics and would provide outpatient and maternal and child health services.11 The first combined clinic was opened in Queenstown by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 13 January 1963.12 Other combined clinics that were built in the 1960s include the Still Road Combined Clinic, Kampong Bugis Combined Clinic and Pasir Panjang Combined Clinic.13

1976–84: Focus on preventive medicine
As chronic diseases were on the rise, the Primary Health Care Services (renamed from MOH’s Public Health Division) began focusing on providing preventive medicine. In 1976, they announced plans to develop polyclinics at major HDB New Towns to provide greater access to primary healthcare services such as general curative treatments, health screenings, immunisations, family planning services, and dental services.14 By centralising health services in one place, polyclinics would also make use of MOH’s resources more efficiently.15

The first of such polyclinics, Kelantan Road Polyclinic, opened on 3 July 1978.16 Another 11 opened by 1980: Bedok Polyclinic, Bukit Merah Polyclinic, Bright Hill Drive Polyclinic, Clementi Polyclinic, Jalan Kayu Polyclinic, Lim Ah Pin Polyclinic, Marine Parade Polyclinic, Pasir Panjang Polyclinic, Queenstown Polyclinic, Still Road Polyclinic, and Toa Payoh Polyclinic.17

1985–99: National Health Plan
In 1983, the government released the National Health Plan, a 20-year strategy for the nation’s health care system. Due to the nation’s steadily increasing health care bill, one of the National Health Plan’s objectives was to build up a healthy population by paying more attention to preventative health care.18|

In 1986, the government announced plans to build 10 polyclinics that offered additional specialist services, cancer-screening programmes, and up-to-date facilities.19 Toa Payoh Polyclinic was the first of these new-generation polyclinics. Opened in 1988, its new facilities included health education rooms and a rehabilitation area for elderly patients.20 It was also the first polyclinic in Singapore to use information technology for its patient management computer system.21

Aside from six existing polyclinics in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Merah, Clementi, Kelantan Road, and Queenstown, the MOH planned to consolidate the remaining MCH clinics and outpatient dispensaries into the new network of 16 polyclinics.22 Many of these MCH and outpatient clinics were built before 1960 and were out-of-date by the 1980s.23

2000–25: A more active role in preventive health care
Because of the country’s ageing population and a continued rise in chronic diseases, the MOH has used polyclinics for preventative health care measures and early disease management.24 Polyclinics are expected to work with community partners to organise activities and programmes to encourage residents to lead healthier lifestyles.25

Older polyclinics will be redeveloped to provide more services and updated infrastructure.26 For instance, Bukit Merah and Outram polyclinics will be merged into a new and larger Tiong Bahru Polyclinic by 2030, which will have more accessibility features.27 New polyclinics will be built in integrated developments that house other community and health care facilities such as gyms or nursing homes.28

As of 2021, the MOH plans to have 32 polyclinics by 2030.29 With the opening of Khatib Polyclinic on 13 May 2024, there are 26 polyclinics in Singapore.30

Clustering of polyclinics
In 2000, Singapore’s public health sector was restructured. Hospitals, health institutes and centres, and polyclinics were grouped together into two main clusters: Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) and National Healthcare Group (NHG).31 The former manages polyclinics in the east, while the latter manages those in the west.32 Clustering is meant to give polyclinics more autonomy in decision-making and encourage further integration with hospital services.33 For instance, some polyclinics in the NHG cluster provide specialist services from hospitals within the cluster.34 Patients recently discharged from hospitals can receive follow-up care at polyclinics instead of at hospitals, where possible.35 It was also hoped that friendly competition would be fostered between NHG and SingHealth, resulting in greater efficiency and lower costs.36

Beginning in 2008, the two clusters split into six smaller regional clusters: Alexandra Health System, Eastern Health Alliance, Jurong Health Services, National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and Singapore Health Services.37 By 2018, the six clusters merged to form three clusters – SingHealth, NHG and a new National University Health System (NUHS)38 – each of which is situated within a larger suite of healthcare services, including hospital, primary and community care, as well as a medical school.39 A new National University Polyclinics group was formed under NUHS.40 The restructuring was done to provide better care at the early stages of diseases, which would ideally reduce downstream costs.41



Author
Andrea Kee



References
1. Ministry of Health, “Primary Healthcare Services,” 2020. (From NLB’s Web Archive Singapore).
2. “Bringing Health Care to the Housing Estates,” New Nation, 5 November 1980, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
3. William A. Haseltine, Affordable Excellence: The Singapore Healthcare Story: How to Create and Manage Sustainable Healthcare Systems (Singapore: Ridge Books, 2013), 94. (Call no. RSING 338.433621 HAS)
4. Richard Lim et al. eds., Vision & Reflections: The Story of Public Health Services (Singapore: Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, 2000), 8. (Call no. RSING 362.1095957 VIS)
5. “Follow-up Care at All 27 Outpatient-centres,” Straits Times, 24 December 1976, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
6. Tong Yoke Tho, Caring for Our People: 50 Years of Healthcare In Singapore (Singapore: MOH Holdings Pte Ltd for the Ministry of Health, 2015), 28. (Call no. RSING 362.1095957 TON)
7. Lim Wei and Adrian Ee, “Primary Care” in Singapore’s Healthcare System: What 50 Years Have Achieved, ed. Lee Chien Earn and K. Satku (Singapore: World Scientific, 2015), 204. (Call no. RSING 362.1095957 SIN)
8. “Free Medical Service Now Welcome in Kampongs,” Straits Times, 9 July 1939, 32. (From NewspaperSG)
9. Tong, Caring for Our People, 28.
10. “2 More Polyclinics Soon,” Straits Times, 16 May 1961, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
11. “New Step to Good Health,” Singapore Free Press, 6 January 1962, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
12. “Crackers Go Off for the Premier,” Straits Times, 14 January 1963, 16. (From NewspaperSG)
13. “Four More Clinics Being Built in Rural Districts,” Singapore Free Press, 11 October 1961, 1; “New Clinic,” Straits Times, 17 April 1967, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
14. Rav Dhaliwal, “Polyclinic 'First' for T. Blangah,” New Nation, 15 September 1976, 3; “Keeping Singapore's Population Healthy...,” Straits Times, 9 August 1978, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
15. Rav Dhaliwal, “Polyclinic 'First' for T. Blangah,” New Nation, 15 September 1976, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
16. “Keeping Singapore's Population Healthy...,” Straits Times, 9 August 1978, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
17. “Bringing Health Care to the Housing Estates,” New Nation, 5 November 1980, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
18. Ministry of Health, Singapore, The National Health Plan, a Blue Paper for the Ministry of Health (Singapore: Ministry of Health, 1983),1. (Call no. RSING 362.1095957 SIN)
19. Stella Danker, “New Govt Clinics Will Offer Specialist Care As Well,” Straits Times, 3 August 1986, 1 (From NewspaperSG); Lim et al., Vision & Reflections, 3.
20. “PWD to Hand Over New Toa Payoh Polyclinic,” Straits Times, 9 October 1987, 15. (From NewspaperSG)
21. Lim and Ee, “Primary Care”, 210.
22. Stella Danker, “New Govt Clinics Will Offer Specialist Care As Well,” Straits Times, 3 August 1986, 1. (From NewspaperSG); Lim et al., Vision & Reflections, 11.
23. Lim et al., Vision & Reflections, 3.
24. Davina Tham, “New polyclinics Open in Bukit Panjang, Kallang; Eunos Polyclinic to Start Operations in December,” Channel News Asia, 2 October 2021. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
25. Salma Khalik, “Polyclinics Must Work with the Community to Promote Better Health: Ong Ye Kung,” Straits Times, 25 November 2023. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
26. Salma Khalik, “Primary Healthcare No Longer Just Treats the Sick, But Also Keeps People Healthy,” Straits Times, 9 December 2023. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
27. Tham, “New Polyclinics Open in Bukit Panjang, Kallang; Eunos Polyclinic to Start Operations in December.”
28 Tham, “New Polyclinics Open in Bukit Panjang, Kallang; Eunos Polyclinic to Start Operations in December.”
29. Tham, “New Polyclinics Open in Bukit Panjang, Kallang; Eunos Polyclinic to Start Operations in December.”
30. Li Ying Lee, “New Polyclinic Opens in Khatib on May 13; Will Serve 80,000 Residents in the Area,” Straits Times, 13 May 2024. (From Newslink via NLB’s eResources website)
31. Tong, Caring for Our People, 144.
32. Lim and Ee, “Primary Care”, 211; Tong, Caring for Our People, 144.
33. National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, NHG Polyclinics: 15 Years of Transforming Primary Healthcare (Singapore: National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, 2015), 12. (Call no. RSING 362.12095957 NHG)
34. Salma Khalik, “Specialist Health Care Goes to Neighbourhoods”, Straits Times, 9 October 2000, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
35. National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, NHG Polyclinics: 15 Years of Transforming Primary Healthcare, 12.
36. National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, NHG Polyclinics: 15 Years of Transforming Primary Healthcare, 12.
37. Neo Chai Chin, MOH to Reorganise Public Healthcare System into 3 Clusters, Today, 19 January 2017, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
38. Linette Lai, “3 Clusters Offer More ‘Firepower’,” Straits Times, 22 January 2017, 4-5. (From NewspaperSG)
39. Poon Chian Hui, “Healthcare Services Will Be Streamlined into 3 Clusters,” Straits Times, 19 January 2017, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
40. Neo Chai Chin, MOH to Reorganise Public Healthcare System into 3 Clusters, Today, 19 January 2017, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
41. Linette Lai, “3 Clusters Offer More ‘Firepower’”; Salma Khalik, “Changes to System Are a Healthy Move,” Straits Times, 22 January 2017, 4–5. (From NewspaperSG)



The information in this article is valid as of 12 March 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.


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