Located everywhere from neighbourhood heartland estates to glitzy shopping malls, medical clinics are reassuringly abundant in Singapore.

At last count, there are over a thousand General Practitioners medical clinics operating in the country.

As midnight approaches, the situation changes somewhat.

But that’s not to say you’ll have to go to a hospital if you need medical attention late at night.

There are 24-hour clinics located throughout Singapore that you can visit for a consultation, even in the wee hours.

HOW MUCH DO 24-HOUR CLINICS COST?

Generally, 24-hour clinics have two tiers of consultation charges: one for regular hours and another for after hours, usually beginning at midnight.

Therefore, how much you need to pay for a consultation depends on the time of your visit.

Charges among the available 24-hour clinics on the island do vary somewhat. However, you should expect to pay anywhere between $80 to $130.

Having said that, most consultations after midnight seem to cost around $100.

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Do remember this charge is for consultation only. You’ll still need to pay for medication as well as procedures such as urine tests or minor surgery, if necessary.

For comparison, you’ll be charged around $120 to $160 for a standard Accident & Emergency (A&E) visit.

This typically covers consultation, diagnostics, treatment and up to 1 week’s worth of medication.

However, depending on the hospital you choose, you may be charged extra for necessary items.

WHAT SERVICES DO 24-HOUR CLINICS PROVIDE?

24-hour clinics offer a range of services catered to general medical needs, which is to say, they are not much different from your regular GP clinic. The only difference is the extended consultation hours they offer.

You may consider going to a 24-hour clinic if you’re taken unwell in the middle of the night, and need medications to deal with your condition or symptoms.

You should also go for a consultation if you develop sudden symptoms or experience rare or unusual symptoms. 

SHOULD I GO TO A 24-HOUR CLINIC OR THE A&E?

The decision whether to go to a 24-hour clinic or a hospital’s A&E department mostly depends on the severity and urgency of the condition. You may also decide to go to the A&E if you have an insurance plan that covers such visits.

However, remember that going to an A&E, when it is not warranted, may mean delaying others who are in genuine need of emergency care.

If your condition is assessed not to be life-threatening, you will be downgraded in priority. As a result, you will have to wait for hours at an A&E before seeing a doctor.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour clinic is much more likely to attend to you much faster (unless you happen to visit during an outbreak in the neighbourhood, or other such freak occurrences).

If the doctor on duty finds that you do need to go to the hospital after all, they will refer you accordingly.

When in doubt, use the following table to help decide whether to go to a 24-hour clinic or the A&E.

WHERE CAN I FIND A 24-HOUR CLINIC NEAR ME?

If you’re new to your neighbourhood and don’t know where the clinics are, consult the following table to quickly locate a 24-hour clinic near you.

This article was first published in SingSaver.com.sg.