https://mothership.sg/2020/07/healthcare-financing-system-sg/">https://mothership.sg/2020/07/h... These statements about risk in healthcare system (& btw one of the co-authors Jeremy Lim literally "wrote the book" on our healthcare system) are worth contrasting against Tharman& #39;s claims last week that our approach is one of "collective responsibility".

I know I keep plugging this super lengthy article but it& #39;s really important to understanding the situation today, of "can& #39;t afford to grow old or fall ill only die" https://newnaratif.com/research/singapore-the-limits-of-a-technocratic-approach-to-healthcare/share/cwguhz/97e3a2760bbfebacf9d281c874939675">https://newnaratif.com/research/...

A very simple summary of where we are goes like this.

Health services in Singapore are of high standard.
Cost per unit output is low--that& #39;s why we are celebrated as "efficient".

BUT access is a problem. Because efficiency doesn& #39;t mean access. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/spores-healthcare-system-best-value-and-satisfaction-falls-behind-providing-access-study">https://www.todayonline.com/singapore...

One effect of prizing "efficiency" is that capacity also tends to be lower. Because redundancy isn& #39;t "efficient".

Charts are by Chong Ja Ian, based on data from Singapore Ministry of Health, Hong Kong Department of Health, OECD, Taiwan Department of Statistics

But that may arguably have implications for, say, a pandemic situation.

Or even just--higher levels of demand in "ordinary" times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hospitals-facing-severe-bed-crunch-take-unusual-steps">https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore...

Also, what is "efficiency" implication when search costs, uncertainty etc. fall on individuals seeking healthcare--often vulnerable & stressed.

Those costs are invisible in accounting terms, but I& #39;d argue they should complicate our concept of "efficient" https://twitter.com/acertainjolene/status/1279046098988851208">https://twitter.com/acertainj...

Of course efficiency shouldn& #39;t be abandoned as concern. But we should ask what--& per Chong, who--we "trade off" in status quo. Is this truly result of deeply jointly considered consensus? Barr article (above) strongly suggests, no. https://www.academia.sg/academic-views/who-are-we-trading-off-considerations-for-singapores-post-pandemic-social-compact/">https://www.academia.sg/academic-...