Govt targets 17,000 nursing home beds by 2020

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health will directly operate a number of nursing homes for subsidised patients to “catalyse” development and innovations in the sector.

However, the MOH only intends to operate about 1,000 beds by 2020 or about six per cent of the total capacity then.

In total, there will be 17,000 nursing home beds by 2030, some 1,400 more than earlier announced.

“It will allow us to better understand operational issues on the ground and develop deeper knowledge about the sector,” said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong today (Jul 31).

Further, the government will also be allowing both charities and larger private players in the nursing home sector to bid for sites within the same geographical region if they are able to run at least two homes.

While there is no criteria on minimum bed capacity for these anchor providers, they must be committed to providing training and developing their workforce.

The first batch of requests for proposals will commence next month.

The government will also be releasing suitable land sites and state properties for the private sector to develop into nursing home facilities.  This will aid operators who have their own models of nursing homes and allow families a variety of options.

Currently, under the Build-own-Lease approach, the Ministry of Health builds and owns homes and selects an operator who can provide affordable and quality care through open tender.