Singapore's medicine is excellent, public and private alike, and appointments come fast. But for a foreign family nothing is free: everything rests on your private insurance. Here is how the system works, where to go at night with a feverish child and how to find a French-speaking doctor.
Verified on 30 October 2026
How the system works
Two networks coexist: public hospitals and polyclinics, subsidised for Singaporeans, and a vast private network of clinics and hospitals. Expat families use both, at full price.
Good to know
Non-residents generally receive no subsidies for inpatient and outpatient care at public hospitals and polyclinics; only public emergency departments charge the same flat attendance fee regardless of nationality. Source ↗
No public cover protects the family: private health insurance is essential. Check hospitalisation, maternity, paediatrics, dental and repatriation, as the French State does not cover health costs abroad. Source ↗
The first port of call is the family doctor (GP) at a neighbourhood clinic, or a paediatrician in private practice, whom you can see directly without a GP referral. Clinics dispense most prescription medicines themselves at the end of the consultation. Source ↗
For nurse advice when it is not life-threatening, the NurseFirst helpline (6262 6262) points you to the right place, neighbourhood clinics and teleconsultations included. Source ↗
No compulsory registration with a doctor: you choose your clinic freely, and go back to keep continuity of care. Families often have a GP near home and a regular paediatrician.
Good to know
Neighbourhood clinics and private paediatric practices are plentiful and often see you the same day; the big private hospitals also house specialist paediatricians (Mount Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles, Thomson, Raffles). Source ↗
Public polyclinics also see foreigners, without subsidies: an option for vaccines and routine check-ups. Source ↗
Bring to the first appointment: the child's passport and pass (FIN number), insurance card, French health record and, if possible, a vaccination summary translated into English.
There is no automatic shared record between private clinics: ask for a copy of reports and vaccines at each visit, especially before moving on.
The embassy's medical adviser and psychologist adviser are on the embassy list: a useful first contact to be guided in French. Source ↗
Two large public emergency departments dedicated to children, open day and night, and 24-hour urgent care centres in private hospitals. Keep the numbers in your phone and with whoever looks after the children.
Good to know
995: ambulance and fire (SCDF), for life-threatening emergencies only; 999: police. Non-emergency calls no longer trigger an ambulance. Source ↗
The 1777 non-emergency ambulance line closes on 1 January 2027: for advice, call NurseFirst (6262 6262); for a non-urgent trip to hospital, take a taxi or a private ambulance. Source ↗
Outside consulate hours and only in a genuine emergency (accident, assault, death), the consular duty officer answers on +65 9816 6364, by phone or WhatsApp. Source ↗
Addresses
KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Children's Emergency
Emergency
100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899 (Children's Tower, niveau B1)
The public reference hospital for children and women, with a children's emergency department that assesses, stabilises and treats babies and children.
The French embassy in Singapore publishes a list of French-speaking health professionals, updated on 12 June 2026. Not exhaustive, it is provided for information only, without engaging the administration's responsibility, and the choice of practitioner is free. It mostly covers GPs and psychologists; it lists no paediatrician or dentist, who are found through word of mouth and French-language media directories.
Good to know
The list covers general practice, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists, and osteopaths; it flags the embassy's medical adviser and psychologist adviser. Source ↗
All work privately: consultations are paid and reimbursed by your insurance according to your policy. Source ↗
For a French-speaking paediatrician, dentist or speech therapist, ask parents' groups and Accueil Singapour, and check the lepetitjournal.com Singapore directory. Source ↗
Addresses
Dr Mélissandre Noël
General practitioner
River Valley (River Valley Doctors)
General practitioner and the embassy's medical adviser, River Valley Doctors, River Valley Road.
Care is provided by an obstetrician-gynaecologist, who delivers the baby in the hospital where they practise: you choose doctor and maternity unit together. Check your insurance maternity cover before pregnancy, many policies impose a waiting period.
Good to know
Maternity leave: an employee is entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave when the child is not a Singapore citizen (16 weeks of Government-Paid Maternity Leave if the child is), subject to length-of-service conditions. Source ↗
After the birth: registration with ICA within 14 days, passport at the consulate, Dependant's Pass applied for by the employer within 6 weeks. Also remember to register the birth with the French civil registry. Source ↗
Accueil Singapour runs coffee mornings for parents and parents-to-be, to talk in French about pregnancy and daily life with a baby. Source ↗
Addresses
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Maternity
100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899
The country's largest public maternity hospital, specialised in gynaecology and paediatrics, with obstetric emergencies (Urgent O&G Centre) and neonatal care.
In Singapore, the doctor often dispenses medicines at the end of the consultation. Neighbourhood pharmacies are mostly for everyday products and advice.
Good to know
Medicines fall into three classes: prescription-only (supplied by clinics, and some by pharmacies with a prescription), pharmacy-only (supplied by a pharmacist without prescription), and general sale. Source ↗
Guardian pharmacies are found in large supermarkets and malls, and every hospital has an on-duty pharmacy. Source ↗
A French prescription is not enough for a prescription-only medicine: bring it, with the box, to a local doctor who will prescribe the equivalent available here. Brand names often differ: remember the active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen). Source ↗
For long-term treatment, arrive with the prescription translated into English and book a local doctor quickly; for a controlled medicine (some psychotropics or strong painkillers), check with the HSA before travelling. Source ↗
The Singapore schedule is close to the French one, with a few differences. Two vaccines are compulsory by law for all children living in Singapore, and checked before school enrolment.
Good to know
The national schedule (NCIS) covers 15 diseases, including tuberculosis (BCG at birth), hepatitis B, chickenpox, influenza and HPV; measles and diphtheria are compulsory under the Infectious Diseases Act. Source ↗
Differences from France: BCG and chickenpox are part of the recommended schedule in Singapore, whereas they are no longer routine in France. Show the French record to the paediatrician, who will review it. Source ↗
Foreign children aged 12 and below must submit proof of vaccination or immunity against measles and diphtheria to the National Immunisation Registry before applying for a long-term study pass. Source ↗
Where to vaccinate: at a private paediatrician or GP, at a public polyclinic (unsubsidised for foreigners) or at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Source ↗
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