Social Prescribing in Singapore: Policy, Research, and Practice

Singapore is renowned for its pragmatic health and social policies that have yielded positive outcomes with low levels of spending. The emphasis is on personal responsibility, family as the primary support system, followed by social service agencies. The government provides basic subsidies and additional assistance based on individual needs. Moreover, there are government-funded programmes aimed at establishing a social safety net and fostering social cohesion. Responding to the challenges of an ageing population and rising healthcare costs, Singapore seeks innovative models of care that enhance cost-effectiveness through care integration. The focus has shifted from promoting integration within the healthcare system to fostering integration between health and social care. The goal is to ensure sustainability by reducing reliance on hospitals and promoting community-based care while supporting overall population health. Social prescribing was piloted in community hospitals where the need for integrating health and social care was most critical. Subsequently, it was expanded to encompass primary care. The ultimate vision is for every resident to have a health plan that includes both a medical prescription and a social prescription. Ongoing research in this area is driven by pragmatism, aiming to optimize the implementation of social prescribing while evaluating its cost-effectiveness.