While the private and public sectors work together in certain cases, such as government hospitals outsourcing some non-Covid-19 cases to private hospitals during the pandemic, APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh said the idea of “partnership” should one day become a thing of the past.

“The system should work in such a way that the partnership is no longer a partnership, but one holistic healthcare system,” he said at the “Future Hospital” forum here today.

He said there would come a time, though not in the immediate future, when the government would only act as a regulator and take care of public health – such as dealing with pandemics and health campaigns – while the private sector would take over the operation of all hospitals and clinics.

“All clinical treatments should be privately managed, because you can contain costs, and give better care to patients,” he said.

Payments could then come from a national insurance scheme or a system where costs are split with the government.

“Of course, there should also be some social support for those who cannot afford treatment, and this is where the government can intervene.”

Kuljit envisions this model being adopted around the world, as the “dichotomy” between the private and public sectors is unsustainable.