Quick answer. At a public hospital Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC), Singapore Citizens with an eligible referral typically pay around S$32-S$84 for a subsidised first consultation (PRs roughly S$80-S$90), while private (unsubsidised) consultations at the same public hospitals run about S$170-S$290 for a first visit depending on the specialist’s seniority. Follow-up/subsequent consults are usually cheaper than the first visit. Note that the consultation fee covers only the doctor’s time – any scans, blood tests, procedures or medications are billed separately – and specialist consultation fees are largely paid out of pocket (CHAS subsidies apply mainly to GP visits and chronic care, not private specialist consults). MOH’s published private-sector fee benchmarks cover surgeries, anaesthesia and inpatient attendance, not routine outpatient specialist consultations.
A specialist consultation is one of the most common medical expenses in Singapore, yet the price you pay can swing several-fold depending on one key factor: whether you are seen as a subsidised patient at a public hospital’s Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) with a valid referral, or as a private patient. This guide explains the typical fee ranges in 2025-2026, the difference between a first and follow-up consult, what the consultation fee does and does not include, and how referrals and subsidies affect your bill. All figures are typical ranges drawn from published public-hospital fee schedules and MOH; your actual cost will vary by hospital, specialty and the specialist’s seniority.
At a glance
| Consultation type | Typical fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subsidised – Singapore Citizen (with referral), first consult | ~S$32-S$84 | Means-tested (30%-70% subsidy); repeat consult slightly lower |
| Subsidised – Permanent Resident (with referral), first consult | ~S$80-S$90 | Lower subsidy than Citizens; repeat consult slightly lower |
| Private patient (public hospital), first consult | ~S$170-S$225 | Varies by seniority (registrar to senior consultant); GST incl. |
| Private patient (public hospital), follow-up consult | ~S$118-S$160 | Subsequent visits cheaper than first |
| Non-resident / foreigner, first consult | ~S$220-S$290 | Highest public-hospital tier |
| Private clinic / private hospital specialist, first consult | ~S$150-S$300+ | Set by the clinic; sub-specialists may charge more |
| Tests, scans, procedures, medication | Billed separately | Not included in any consultation fee above |
Subsidised vs private vs non-resident: the three pricing tiers
Public (restructured) hospitals charge the same specialist on three different scales depending on your patient status:
- Subsidised (Citizens/PRs with eligible referral): Singapore Citizens pay a means-tested fee – at hospitals such as Singapore General Hospital and the National Neuroscience Institute this is roughly S$32-S$84 for a first consultation (the exact amount depends on your per-capita household income, with subsidies of 30%-70%). Permanent Residents are subsidised at a lower rate, paying around S$80-S$90.
- Private / unsubsidised patient at a public hospital: Without a qualifying referral (or by choice), you pay the full private rate, typically S$170-S$225 for a first consult with a consultant or senior consultant, GST included.
- Non-resident / foreigner: Highest tier, commonly S$220-S$290 for a first consult at a public hospital.
Private clinics and private hospitals set their own fees and are not bound to these scales; first-consult fees there commonly sit in a comparable S$150-S$300+ range and can be higher for sub-specialists.
First consultation vs follow-up (subsequent) consultation
A first/initial consultation is almost always more expensive than a follow-up (repeat/subsequent) consultation, because the first visit involves taking a full history, examination and forming a management plan. For example, at the National Neuroscience Institute a private senior-consultant consult is around S$225 first / S$152 repeat, and at SGH around S$221 first / S$159 repeat. For subsidised Citizens, the difference is smaller but still present (e.g. roughly S$36-S$84 first vs S$34-S$80 repeat). When budgeting for an ongoing condition, base your estimate on the lower follow-up rate for return visits.
What the consultation fee does NOT include
The consultation fee pays only for the specialist’s time and assessment. Anything done on top is billed separately, often making the total bill far larger than the headline consult fee. Items charged in addition include:
- Blood tests and laboratory investigations
- Imaging – X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI scans
- In-clinic procedures, scopes and minor surgery
- Medications and prescriptions dispensed
- Daily treatment fees and other hospital charges
Always ask the clinic for an estimate that covers likely tests and procedures, not just the consultation, so you are not surprised at the cashier.
How a GP referral and subsidies affect your bill
To qualify for subsidised SOC rates, you generally need a referral from an eligible source – a polyclinic, a public hospital A&E or inpatient/day-surgery episode, or a GP under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), including your Healthier SG family doctor. Walking in to a public specialist without such a referral usually means you are charged the private (unsubsidised) rate. Subsidies are means-tested (30%-70% for Citizens, ~25% for PRs), applied automatically with no separate application, and Pioneer/Merdeka Generation members get further discounts.
Importantly, specialist consultation fees are largely out of pocket. CHAS subsidies apply to GP and dental visits and to chronic-disease management at participating GP clinics – not to private specialist consults. MediSave can be tapped for certain chronic conditions under the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) and for some outpatient scans/treatments, but routine specialist consultation fees themselves typically cannot be paid from MediSave and are settled in cash, card or via insurance riders where applicable.
What MOH fee benchmarks do (and don't) cover
MOH publishes fee benchmarks for the private healthcare sector to improve price transparency. These benchmarks cover surgeon professional fees (around 2,100+ procedures on the Table of Surgical Procedures), anaesthetist fees, doctors’ inpatient attendance fees, and total hospital charges for common procedures. They are reference ranges, not price caps. Crucially, the published benchmarks do not set a figure for routine outpatient specialist consultations – so for consult fees you should rely on each clinic’s or hospital’s own published fee schedule. If you are heading toward surgery, however, the MOH benchmarks are a useful sanity-check on the surgeon and anaesthetist quotes.
Related guides
Sources
- MOH – Subsidies for Specialist Outpatient Care at Public Healthcare Institutions
- Singapore General Hospital – Outpatient Charges
- National Neuroscience Institute – Consultation Charges
- MOH – New Fee Benchmarks for the Private Healthcare Sector
- MOH – Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)
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