Singapore enhances primary healthcare access for migrant workers, lowers PCP costs for most employers

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will enhance the Primary Care Plan (PCP) for migrant workers from April 1, 2027, bringing healthcare services closer to workers while reducing or maintaining annual costs for almost all employers.

MOM has appointed four Anchor Operators (AOs) to deliver primary healthcare services under the enhanced PCP for five years from April 2027. The operators are SATA CommHealth for the North Zone, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital for the South, Healthway Medical Group for the East and Fullerton Health for the West.

The enhanced scheme will consolidate the existing six geographical zones into four larger zones, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and keeping costs affordable for employers.

Under the new contract, annual PCP capitation rates will range from S$97 to S$113 per worker, compared with the current S$108 to S$138. MOM said this means almost all employers will pay the same or lower annual capitation rates for their migrant workers.

The revised rates are partly enabled by the larger geographical zones, which allow Anchor Operators to achieve economies of scale, streamline clinic operations and align service hours more closely with workers’ healthcare needs. The longer five-year contract period will also allow operators to spread costs over a longer period.

For migrant workers, one of the key changes will be improved access to clinics. MOM said most workers will have access to a PCP clinic within 2km of where they live, compared with 3km currently.

The enhanced PCP will also introduce a standardised co-payment of S$5 per consultation for both physical clinic consultations and telemedicine services. MOM said the measure is intended to encourage workers to seek medical attention promptly while keeping consultation costs affordable.

The PCP, introduced in 2022, has recorded high satisfaction levels among migrant workers. More than 96% of workers surveyed said they were satisfied with the services provided by their Anchor Operators, while 92% said medical care was accessible and convenient.

MOM will also introduce a new PCP Enrolment Portal for employers from April 1, 2027. The centralised platform will allow employers to enrol workers through a single system and track their PCP status across zones and Anchor Operators.

Migrant workers will also gain greater flexibility through enhanced appointment-booking systems. The systems will allow workers to book, modify or cancel appointments at their assigned PCP clinics in advance, with the aim of reducing waiting times.

Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said the changes were aimed at balancing healthcare access for migrant workers with affordability for employers.

“The enhancements to the PCP reflect MOM’s commitment to ensuring that migrant workers have access to affordable, accessible and assured primary healthcare, while keeping costs manageable and sustainable for employers. Together with healthcare providers and industry partners, MOM will continue to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes for the migrant worker community,” he said.

Under the new arrangement, SATA CommHealth’s North Zone is expected to serve about 120,000 migrant workers through two zonal medical centres and four partner clinics. St Andrew’s Mission Hospital’s South Zone will serve an estimated 80,000 workers through one medical centre and two partner clinics.

Healthway Medical Group’s East Zone will serve around 90,000 workers through one zonal medical centre and eight partner clinics, while Fullerton Health’s West Zone will serve approximately 100,000 workers through one medical centre and three partner clinics.

The enhanced PCP is part of MOM’s broader effort to strengthen access to primary healthcare for Singapore’s migrant workforce while maintaining a sustainable healthcare model for employers.