Country profile: Singapore

Singapore Pharmaceuticals And Healthcare

Singapore's consistent and transparent medicine regulations are also attractive to multinational drugmakers. The fundamental drawback is a small pharmaceutical market that is growing slowly, with strict price controls also a deterrent. Over the medium term, we expect Singapore to fall down the ratings, as emerging countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia become more alluring to foreign firms selling patented products. Singapore is a major pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. The main attractions to drugmakers are a skilled workforce, a stable political environment, government incentives and a thriving port. In November 2009, Swiss global healthcare company Roche opened its US$500mn biologics manufacturing plant in the Tuas industrial zone in the country. In Q309, Medtronic invested SGD80mn (US$55.94mn) in a Singaporean manufacturing facility producing cardiac rhythm disease management devices for the regional market. High-quality healthcare services are available to all Singaporeans, regardless of income level. To help citizens co-pay' for services, there are four schemes: Medisave, Medishield, Eldershield and Medifund. Introduced in 1984, Medisave allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income (6-8% of their monthly salary depending on age) into an account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalisation, day surgery or certain outpatient expenses.

Singapore is south-east Asia's hi-tech  wealthy city-state which is also known for the conservatism of its leaders and its strict social controls.

The country comprises the main island - linked by a causeway and a bridge to the southern tip of Malaysia - and around 50 smaller islands.

Once a colonial outpost of Britain  Singapore has become one of the world's most prosperous places - with glittering skyscrapers and a thriving port.

Overview

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

Most of its people live in public-housing tower blocks. They enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living  but also a system of punishments for acts deemed to be anti-social.

The Singapore Field Office is located in the Republic of Singapore .

Government-led initiatives have encouraged Singaporeans to have more babies and to be more courteous. Citizens are urged to "Speak Good English" in place of a local slang known as "Singlish".

Chinese make up more than 75% of the community; Malays and Indians make up much of the remainder. There are many foreign workers.

Although Singapore is a multi-party nation  the People's Action Party (PAP) has been the dominant force since independence. Rights groups have accused some politicians of using defamation suits to silence their opponents.

Singapore is often referred to as one of Asia's economic "tigers". Its economy is driven by electronics manufacturing and financial services and has weathered regional crises  including the 1997 Asian markets slump and the 2003 Sars virus outbreak.

In the face of strong competition from regional manufacturers  Singapore is seeking to strengthen its services sector and tourism industry.

The country was referred to - less kindly - by the writer William Gibson as "Disneyland with the death penalty".

Singapore argues that its use of capital punishment - applied mostly for drugs trafficking offences - has stopped the growth of narcotics syndicates.

Facts

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

Leaders

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

President: S R Nathan

S R Nathan began a second  successive six-year term in September 2005 after the other contenders for the post were disqualified. Candidates must meet strict selection criteria.

Though fulfilling a mainly ceremonial role  the president has the power of veto in key areas  including government spending  and can appoint senior civil servants.

Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong

The elder son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew  Lee Hsien Loong took office in August 2004  without an election  as part of a planned handover of power.

People in Singapore queue outside the office of AIA, a subsidiary of AIG.

He vowed to continue the policy of opening up Singapore's society.

A former army officer  Mr Lee followed his father into politics at the age of 32  becoming deputy prime minister in 1990.

As finance minister in his predecessor's cabinet  he was credited with helping to secure Singapore's competitive edge amidst growing competition from China.

Mr Lee's father  who oversaw the transformation of Singapore into an economic power  is the cabinet's official mentor - a newly-created post.

Goh Chok Tong  Lee Hsien Loong's predecessor  is the senior minister in the cabinet  and thus the most senior advisor to the prime minister.

Media

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

Singapore's media environment is highly regulated. Censorship is common  internet access is regulated and private ownership of satellite dishes is not allowed.

Government officials have a record of winning defamation suits against foreign publications. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says the press is "in the grip of a rigorous self-censorship" over its coverage of domestic politics.

Two players dominate the media scene. Singapore Press Holdings  which has close links to the ruling party  has a virtual monopoly of the newspaper industry. MediaCorp  owned by a state investment agency  operates TV and radio stations.

The two companies merged their free newspaper and TV operations at the start of 2005.

Political debate has found an outlet on the internet; however  those who post political material are expected to register with the authorities.

Singapore is a regional pioneer of high-definition and mobile TV services. The government's multi-million dollar "Media 21" blueprint aims to turn the country into a regional hub for the digital media industry and to create thousands of new jobs in the sector.

The BBC World Service is available via an FM relay.

The press

• Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) - publishes 15 newspapers and six periodicals
• The Straits Times - published by SPH
• Business Times - published by SPH
• Today - published by MediaCorp

Television

• MediaCorp - operates entertainment-based Channel 5 and Channel 8  Malay channel Suria  Mandarin-language Channel U  and Channel NewsAsia

Radio

• MediaCorp - operates more than a dozen stations including news and talk station 938Live  music stations and Chinese  Malay and Indian services

• SPH Unionworks - operates English-language Radio 91.3 and Mandarin station Radio 100.3

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