Singapore Public Hospitals & Ward Classes Guide 2026 (SGH, NUH, TTSH)

Complete guide to Singapore public restructured hospitals (SGH, NUH, TTSH, CGH). Explains Ward Classes (A, B1, B2, C), 80% means-tested subsidies, & admission.

Statutory Overview & Healthcare System

Singapore's public restructured hospitals operate as independent statutory government-owned institutions providing tertiary inpatient, surgical, and specialist outpatient care. The major public general hospitals include Singapore General Hospital (SGH), National University Hospital (NUH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Changi General Hospital (CGH), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Sengkang General Hospital (SKGH), and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). Patients choose between four ward classes: Class A (single room, aircon, non-subsidised), Class B1 (4-bed, aircon, non-subsidised), Class B2 (6-bed, non-aircon/subsidised), and Class C (8-bed, non-aircon/subsidised). Subsidised ward admissions receive up to 50%-80% government subsidies via household means-testing.

Key Healthcare Criteria & Medical Rules

Subsidised vs Non-Subsidised Ward ClassesWard Selection

Class B2 and C wards qualify for government subsidies; Class A and B1 are non-subsidised private rates.

Household Means-Testing Subsidy MatrixMeans Testing

Subsidy rate (50% to 80%) is computed based on monthly per capita household income or property AV.

Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) Subsidised RatesSOC Subsidies

Subsidised SOC appointments require a formal referral letter from a polyclinic or CHAS GP.

MediShield Life & MediSave Direct Hospital BillingDirect Billing

Hospitals e-file claims directly to MediShield Life and CPF MediSave, minimizing upfront cash payments.

Eligibility & Patient Guidelines

Open to all patients; subsidies are restricted to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in Class B2/C wards.

Polyclinic or CHAS referral letter is required to enjoy subsidised Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) rates.

Deposit or Letter of Guarantee (LOG) is required upon admission for Class A/B1 wards.

Permanent Residents receive 10 percentage points lower subsidy than Singapore Citizens in Class B2/C.

Medical Verification & Document Checklist

Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act & MOH Inpatient Guidelines

Singapore Pink NRIC (Citizen) / Blue NRIC (PR)

Polyclinic / CHAS Referral Letter for Subsidised Specialist Consult

Integrated Shield Plan Letter of Guarantee (LOG) or Cash Deposit

Public Hospital Inpatient Admission Deposit Receipt & Financial Counseling Form

Step-by-Step Healthcare & Admission Workflow

Obtain Polyclinic or GP Referral to Public Hospital Specialist

Visit polyclinic to obtain subsidised referral letter to hospital Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC).

Attend Hospital SOC Consultation & Surgery Booking

Consult hospital specialist doctor; doctor schedules elective inpatient admission or surgery.

Complete Financial Counselling & Select Ward Class

Attend financial counselling; choose Ward Class (A, B1, B2, or C) and authorize MediSave.

Undergo Hospital Inpatient Admission & Treatment

Check into ward on admission date; undergo surgery and post-operative nursing care.

Discharge & Automated MediShield / MediSave Settlement

Receive consolidated bill; hospital automatically deducts MediShield Life and MediSave amounts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The major public general hospitals are Singapore General Hospital (SGH), National University Hospital (NUH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Changi General Hospital (CGH), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Sengkang General Hospital (SKGH), and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).

Class A (single room) and B1 (4-bed) are non-subsidised private wards with air conditioning. Class B2 (6-bed) and C (8-bed) are non-aircon subsidised public wards receiving up to 80% government subsidies.

You must obtain a formal referral letter from a polyclinic or CHAS GP clinic before your hospital visit. Walk-in patients without a referral are billed at non-subsidised rates.

MOH evaluates your monthly household per capita income to determine your subsidy tier (from 50% to 80%) for Class B2 and C ward admissions.

Yes. Permanent Residents receive subsidies for Class B2 and C wards, but their subsidy rate is 10 percentage points lower than Singapore Citizens.

Yes, but upgrading to a higher ward class makes your entire hospital stay non-subsidised retroactively from admission day.