Over one-third of Singaporeans cut back health-related expenses

TELUS Health said 65% curtailed their discretionary spending.

Nearly 30% of Singaporeans polled in a study have decreased their health-related spending due to inflation, TELUS Health revealed in a recent study.

Apart from this, 65% curtailed their discretionary spending, 41% prefer to stay at home more, and 13% cut their expenditure on prescription medication.  

As a result, the country’s mental health index scores fell more than the national average. Financial pressures are impacting the well-being and relationships of Singaporeans. More than a fifth (22%) have reported a decline in their marital relationships due to financial pressure. 

“Their mental health score is 35.8, which is nearly 26 points below the national average and a serious cause for concern,” said TELUS Health.

Overall, the study showed that parents are struggling significantly amidst inflation and financial pressures. They are 80% more likely to cut back on health-related expenses than non-parents.

Nearly half or 42% of Singaporeans with children under the age of 18 are also worried about their children's behaviour. Amongst this group, 72% believed their children's behaviour has deteriorated since the pandemic began. This situation has adversely affected the mental health and work productivity scores of concerned parents.