The Singapore Medical Experience

This is a journey of my life experiences with medical clinic, polyclinic, A&E and hospital outpatient clinic.

(Of Kidney Stone, Liver Cancer and Government Subsidies)

Singaporean, male, age 65, retired, no medical history, interest in wind surfing, most time spent sailing or by the beach.

Physically fit, exercises regularly in the morning, eat well & sleep well.
Job now is to take good care of my wife. Living life simply.

One mysterious sharp pain started a series of events, looking back on the twists and turns at every point.

Although time and money spent, it raises my awareness on health matters.

Health is wealth. Keeping a healthy lifestyle is a truly worthy investment.

Prevention is better than cure. Vaccination is definitely budget friendly compared to the series of test, consultation and treatment.

Getting sick in Singapore is no kidding matters especially if there is no subsidy, a set of blood tests for liver cancer cost $620.40, after subsidy $248.16
Highly recommended to go for Hepatitis B vaccination to protect the liver.

Emotionally, it is very difficult to put into words the reactions or feelings upon hearing 80% probability of having Liver cancer (HCC)

Without treatment for a 4.2 cm malignant tumor, what life remains is 1 year.

My belief in cancer is that cancer is inside our body hiding, whether it will remain diminished (nano) or growth (cm) depends on our lifestyles.

Do not be ignorant to body responses (symptoms), at the same time do not be stressed or be paranoid of it.
In my case, I erred on the safe side because of my wife’s concerns.

The below is the series of events from the start 22 June 2025 to 2 April 2026.
Starting with suspected Kidney stone to Cancerous liver tumor, a 9 months ordeal.

Abbreviations
GP General Practitioner
A&E Accident & Emergency
CGH Changi General Hospital
TTSH Tan Tock Seng Hospital
SGH Singapore General Hospital
CT Computed Tomography
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
CDLD Centre for Digestive & LivercDiseases
HCC Hepatocellular Carcinoma (No.3 Killer Cancer)
Net$ Amount after subsidy (for Singaporean)

Definitions
Senior People over 60 years old
$ Singapore dollar (S$)

22 June 2025 (morning) Clinic GP
Waking up on a fine Sunday morning, I was feeling fine until I tried getting out of bed, I couldn’t.
A sharp pain on my lower right abdomen was restricting my movement.

Rested in bed for 2~3 hours before the pain subsided and was able to get out of bed.

In our own diagnosis, it could be kidney stone or appendicitis.
Worried that it might be a case of appendicitis, my wife brought me to a nearby clinic.

The GP couldn’t confirm and advised us to go to the A&E with a referral.
This referral will help validate the emergency.
Along with another document which entitled us to a discount of $50 for the A&E visit.

Afternote: A Government scheme to encourage patient to visit private clinic before the A&E. (Credit $50)

22 June 2025 (afternoon) CGH A&E

It was a quiet Sunday, a quiet A&E.

Consultation, an ultrasound and an X-Ray, unlikely appendicitis but likely kidney stone @L3L4 abdomen

Was prescribed Tamsulosin for relaxing muscles and pain killers, both mild and strong doses in case of recurring sharp pains.

A referral to CGH Urology for follow up consultation.

Appointment wait time ~1 month (01 Aug 2025)

A&E attendance fee $330, Net$165 (Paid$115, discount $50 for referral from GP clinic)

Afternote: Not hectic or crowded for an A&E, surprisingly pleasant. (1st X-Ray)

01Aug 2025 CGH Urology
Arrived 30 minutes before appointed time 1040am.

Log on to health buddy, my queue was 7 patients ahead.
Waited an hour (from appointed time), then my queue was 2 patients ahead. [Feeling happy]

After 15 minutes later, I check my queue status, my queue was 5 patients ahead. [SHOCK]

What is the purpose of such Health buddy app? It is definitely detrimental to use.

I approached the admin staff for an explanation, after checking, answer was they wanted to stream the queue faster.
Stream faster means the queue nos. should be reducing not increasing.

The urology department layout was a square formation, chairs and displays monitors were laid out all over the passageways and corners.
But only 1 display monitor are working (displaying call information), so everyone is sitting and standing in 1 miserable corner.

The use of technology by CGH Urology department is questionable, make no sense queue system,
along with lots of “blackout” display monitors.

I walk out disappointed.

In the evening, a CGH doctor contacted me via phone, I explained the above situations to him and thank him for the call.
It was really a kind gesture. System no good but human (interface) was good, especially health professional (Doctor)

Afternote: There were full of “senior” patients in the “Queue corner”, pack like sardines.

04 Aug 2025 Geylang East Polyclinic Consultation
Went to my regular Polyclinic to check my kidney stone status and also to get a second opinion.
Consultation fee $74.40, Net$8.50 (Good value!)
Radiology X-ray Abdomen /KUB ($68.40, Net$24.70)
Result: Kidney stone shown no movement. Good or Bad??? (2nd X-Ray)

Requested for a referral to TTSH (Explained my situation encountered at CGH)
Appointment wait time ~1 month (16 Sep 2025)

Afternote: Good news, because the stone remains in the same location; bad, because it is not dissolving or moving along.

15 Sep 2025 (evening)
Received phone call from TTSH Urology.
Appointment on 16 Sep 2025 to be postponed

Reason being there was a need to go for CT scan before doctor consultation.
Wait for CT appointment ~ 2 weeks (CT Scan estimate cost $700 ~ $1000)
Wait for doctor consult appointment ~ 1 week after CT scan.

I waited 1 month for a doctor consult (16 Sep 2025), without even a consultation, I was instructed to do CT scan.
I couldn’t accept such an arrangement, upon receiving the delayed schedule appointments, I cancelled them all.

Last minute changes and being forced to do CT scan before consultation. Not acceptable for me.
I have had previous experience with TTSH Neurology (on Bell Palsy), and they are good and professional.

Afternote: Kidney stones are not life threatening, but when it occurs, it can be a very painful episode.
Decided to watch my diet and gather more information on Kidney Stone.

30 Sep 2025 Geylang East Polyclinic Annual screening Lab
Blood & urine tests.
Lab $63.20, Net$19.80
Afternote: Results all normal.

07 Oct 2025 Geylang East Polyclinic Annual screening consultation
Consultation fee $74.40, Nett$8.50
Requested an X-ray to check my Kidney stone status.
Radiology X-ray Abdomen Kub Ap/Supine $68.40, Net$24.70
Result: Kidney stone shown no movement. Same result as 2nd X-ray (3rd X-Ray)

Afternote: Almost 3 months, kidney stone has no movement (seem lock in).

19 Oct 2025 to 28 Oct 2025
A trip to Thailand.
Making merit for my Mother-In-Law.

During this oversea trip, I encountered extremely high blood pressure readings (170/100)
Consulted a doctor in Thailand, was prescribed medication Manidipine 10mg.

This is a perfectly suitable replacement for Enalapril 5mg. Works well & safe on Kidney too.

Afternote: Blessing in disguise, after using Manidipine medication, my blood pressure is very normal (125/77)

04 Nov 2025 Geylang East Polyclinic Consultation
In view of the high blood pressure event in Thailand, decided to further evaluates my kidney stone condition.
Consultation: $74.40, Net$8.50

Requested for a referral to SGH (Explained my situation encountered with TTSH Urology)
Appointment wait time ~2 months (07 Jan 2026)

Afternote: Discussed with Doctor regarding my blood pressure medications, seem Singapore does not have the medication Manidipine.

07 Jan 2026 SGH Urology
Consultation: $106.33, Net$42.53
U/S bladder/kidney investigation: $97.00, Net$38.80

Urologist after viewing the past X-ray images, strongly believes that it is a bone spur, not kidney stone. [Fantastic]

However, needed to confirm the diagnosis with a CT scan. (Non-contrast)

Appointment wait time ~1 month+ (20 Feb 2026)

Afternote: SGH Urologist is really professional in his area of expertise. [Impressed]

20 Feb 2026 SGH Radiology
CT scan KUB (Non-Contrast) $468.10. Net$187.24 [Happy]

Afternote: This fee is much lower than TTSH quote of $700 ~ $1000.

05 Mar 2026 SGH Urology
Consultation: $106.33, Net$42.53
Result of CT scan: Confirmed it is bone spur, and not kidney stone.

However, the CT scan reveal a black mass on the Liver organ.
Was referred to the Liver specialist @CDLD.

Appointment wait time ~1 week (12 Mar 2026)

Afternote: I was very happy with regards to bone spur; and I was not too concerned about the black mass on the liver.

12 Mar 2026 SGH CDLD
During consultation with a (Junior) doctor, I refused to go further with the diagnostics.
He claims he couldn’t tell what the black mass was. So, I insisted on no further checks.
He then referred me to the Head doctor.

Meeting the Head doctor (Professor), I was told it is a 4.2 size tumor and 80% probability is cancerous! [Confused]

I still refused treatment as I am doing fine, also knowing how costly cancer treatment can be.
Not only cancer treatment is expensive, its only prolong the patient life, extends suffering and draining money.

As there is a remaining 20% probability of a benign tumor,
I agree to proceed with the blood test and MRI, to determine the types of tumors.

Consultation: $106.33, Net$42.53

Appointment (MRI) wait time ~2 weeks (29 Mar 2026)
Appointment (Consultation) wait time ~1 week (02 Apr 2026)

12 Mar 2026 SGH Lab
Blood test (11 types of tests) $620.40, Net$248.16

Hepatitis B (Past Exposure) $100.50
Hepatitis C Antibody $63.70
UE BI CRE GLU $96.40
TP ALB TBIL ALP AST $99.10
CA 199 $58.10
ALPHA FOETO PROTEIN $57.10
CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN $47.40

Afternote: I was shocked with the billing for a set of “Liver Blood test” totaled $620 .40.

12 Mar 2026 to 02 Apr 2026 Home
During this period, while I was ready for the worst-case scenario, my wife was not ready to accept the situation.

A few days after the blood test, the result was available online, all was normal. (Health Hub – Lab) [Relief]
Further reinforced my belief that the tumor is benign.

Afternote:
I wanted to stop at this point (15 Mar 2026), since blood test results are normal. No further test, MRI or checks.

My wife is still concerned for me and wanted to proceed, and worst case go for treatment. I just have to listen to her.

29 Mar 2026 SGH Radiology
A beautiful Sunday afternoon, the place was exclusively quiet for a hospital environment.

SGH was so kind to expedite my case as it is a potential cancer case.

My wife accompanies me for the MRI; the process from registering, preparation, “machining” went smoothly.

MRI Liver Specific Contrast $1908.00, Net$763.20 (Prior estimate fee sub was $954~$1469.16)

Afternote: Thank goodness the billing was below the lower limit; however, it is still expensive.

02 Apr 2026 SGH CDLD
Result of the MRI scan, confirmed is a Hemangioma, a benign tumor.

Consultation: $106.33, Net$42.53

Afternote:
Suddenly, I was brought back to 22 Jun 2025, but a lot poorer financially but health awareness enlightened.

Gainfully experience X-Rays, CT scan, MRI scan, near HCC, kidney stone and related emotions.

Summary

It seems the Government hospital operating standards are not aligned.
They use different technology (software), SMS notifications style, Services fee etc.

Health care in Singapore is definitely expensive, for Singaporean there will be government Subsidy, MediSave, MediShield & Medi Fund.
(3S + F)

Appointment waiting time is quite long unless for urgent case like mine “Possible Cancer”.

SGH has proven to be the best of all 3 government hospitals that I have had experienced.
Polyclinics are still the best in terms of cost, consultation Net$8.50

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