A total of 29 healthcare institutions, comprising public hospitals, private hospitals and national speciality centres, provide a complete spectrum of clinical services from basic health screening to complex quaternary care. The city-state's public hospitals and specialty centres engage in clinical research with the many pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology companies based in Singapore. Patients are able to get early access to state-of-the-art medicine and new treatment protocols for their medical condition. This enables Singapore to remain cutting-edge in its healthcare services delivery.

Singapore's goal is to become Asia's premier healthcare hub via the attraction of foreign patients. In 2005, more than 370,000 foreign patients sought treatment on its shores, and the target is for this number to grow to 1 million by year 2012.