Details on Inflation Rate for Dental Services without Government Subsidies

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Minister for Health with regard to the 2.1% inflation rate for dental services after Government subsidies over the past 10 years (a) whether the Ministry is able to provide the inflation rate without Government subsidies; (b) whether the Ministry has the figures for the inflation rate for private sector dental services; and (c) whether these figures take into account the costs for dental implants, dental prosthetics like dentures and also specialised procedures like root canal operations.

Healthcare inflation measures the growth in actual prices of healthcare related goods and services, inclusive of taxes and after Government subsidies. It is calculated based on the Healthcare Consumer Price Index (CPI) compiled by the Singapore Department of Statistics (DOS).

We currently do not have specific data on inflation for dental services without Government subsidies. Between 2009 and 2018, the inflation rate for dental services provided by the private sector was 2.3% per annum.

These inflation figures reflect the price changes for dental procedures commonly used by Singaporeans, such as scaling and polishing, filling, dental prosthetics (dentures) fitting, root canal treatment and so on. Dental implants are currently not included in the CPI basket as they are less frequently used.