Page 18 - Manpower_Report2021_200524_eng

Singapore has leapfrogged ahead of Hong Kong’s doctor supply

Figure II.

Doctors / 1,000 population

• In 2008, the doctors per 1,000 population ratio
in Singapore was 1.62, lower than Hong Kong’s 1.76
2008 1.76 1.62
(12,215*) (7,841*)
• In 2019 Singapore reached a doctors
per 1,000 population ratio of 2.50 surpassing
2019 2.00 2.50 Hong Kong’s 2.00
(15,004*) (14,279*)

The number of doctors in Singapore grew by 82% in about a decade.

Note: *Number of doctors
Sources: Census and Statistics Department, 2009a, 2021; Department of Statistics Singapore, 2021a, 2021b
Hong Kong is evidently not alone in facing a shortage of doctors. However, its recent measures have not brought about
significant benefit against its shortfalls in doctor supply. This contrasts against other jurisdictions, such as Singapore, that have
recently surpassed Hong Kong’s doctor to 1,000 population ratio. In 2008, Singapore had fewer doctors per 1,000 population
than Hong Kong (Census and Statistics Department, 2009a, 2021; Department of Statistics Singapore, 2021a, 2021b).
However, Singapore subsequently increased the total number of doctors by 82%, leapfrogging ahead to surpass Hong
Kong in about a decade; and by 2019, Singapore had 2.50 doctors per 1,000 population while Hong Kong only had 2.00 per
1,000 population (Census and Statistics Department, 2020a, 2021; Department of Statistics Singapore, 2021a, 2021b).

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