A Systems Approach to Long-Term Healthcare Facilities Planning for Singapore

Yu Shuangshuang

Abstract

Healthcare facilities planning involves a large amount of critical resources, and the optimal use of these resources is essential to well-being of general population. In Singapore, healthcare facilities consist of public general hospitals, community hospitals, polyclinics, private hospitals and private clinics, which are planned and operated independently of one another. However, as the demand for more hospital beds are increasing, as a result of rapidly ageing population and large influx of foreigners, Singapore government should consider building additional public general healthcare facilities to satisfy the demand. The objective of this thesis is to investigate current situation of public general healthcare facilities in Singapore in order to understand its landscape and limitations in light of an aging population. The quality of the current healthcare facilities are evaluated using optimization models based on population distribution, travel distances, and bed-capacity of the hospitals. And based on population projection from the government population white paper and planning of housing location, to study the long term health care facilities planning for Singapore. Henceforth the optimal number of additional healthcare facilities are determined based on potential population level. The suitability of six potential locations for these additional facilities are then assessed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and long term planning by Minimax Facility Location Model. Our results can serve as a tool for healthcare authorities to manage and plan the long-term healthcare facilities for Singapore, so that general population will be able to enjoy a better and more convenient access to healthcare facilities.