KUALA LUMPUR - Most migrant workers in Singapore will have a clinic within 2km of their place of residence under plans to expand Singapore’s Primary Care Plan (PCP) over the next few years to strengthen access to healthcare.

According to The Straits Times, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng said the expansion will increase the number of PCP clinics, resulting in shorter travel times, faster treatment when workers are unwell and less disruption to their work and rest schedules.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said most migrant workers currently live within 3km of a PCP clinic.

He said MOM will also introduce a centralised online portal to make it easier for employers to enrol workers under the PCP.

The PCP is mandatory for migrant workers in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors, as well as those living in dormitories housing seven or more workers.

At present, PCP clinics are organised across six geographic zones, and these zones will be consolidated into four larger zones by 2027.

Dr Tan said the move will allow anchor operators to serve a larger pool of workers, benefit from economies of scale and keep annual fees affordable for employers.

“This reduction in zones will not compromise our workers’ accessibility to care.

“In fact, it will be a win-win for our workers, employers and anchor operators.

“Why? Because we are increasing the supply of clinics closer to where our workers live, so at the same time providing better access while keeping costs affordable and manageable for employers,” he said at the International Migrants Day event at D’Marquee in Downtown East on 14 December.

MOM said pricing for physical and telemedicine consultations under the scheme will be standardised at $5.

It said the telemedicine co-payment will increase from $2 to $5 to reflect higher delivery costs, while physical consultation fees will remain unchanged.

Dr Tan said the revised pricing will take effect when new PCP anchor operators are appointed from April 2027.

Launched in 2022, the PCP currently costs between $108 and $138 per worker annually.

The scheme covers unlimited consultations for acute and chronic conditions, an annual basic health screening, telemedicine services and medication delivery.

Dr Tan said the scheme has been well received, with nine in 10 migrant workers reporting that clinic consultations are affordable and accessible.

On social support, Dr Tan announced that MOM and the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) will merge two existing volunteer programmes.

About 2,000 migrant workers currently volunteer through MOM’s Friends of ACE programme and as ambassadors with the MWC.

Dr Tan said the volunteers engage workers, relay feedback on issues faced and work with partners to strengthen community support, and the two programmes will be merged into a single unified scheme in 2026.

He said this will allow MOM and MWC to deploy volunteers more effectively and extend outreach to more workers.

Under the new programme, selected “Star Ambassadors” will take on specialised roles as role models within their communities.

Dr Tan said some will serve as dormitory representatives to support fellow residents, while others will assist partners in organising recreational and sporting activities at recreation centres.

Dr Tan said he looked forward to more migrant workers joining this meaningful programme and contributing according to their interests and abilities.

He also reiterated plans to diversify social and recreational offerings for migrant workers, including appointing a new consortium led by Hope Initiative Alliance and the Dormitory Association of Singapore to operate recreation centres in Kaki Bukit and Woodlands.

“All of you – our migrant workers – can look forward to refreshed facilities and more diverse initiatives, from sports to entertainment and cultural performances, as well as training programmes such as English and digital literacy classes,” he said.

On housing, Dr Tan said the first government-built and owned dormitory, NESST Tukang, has begun accepting residents ahead of its official opening in January 2026.

Nearly 400 workers have moved into the Jurong facility, which can house up to 2,400 residents.

Dr Tan said features such as improved ventilation, privacy corners and round-the-clock food access were incorporated based on workers’ feedback.

“This Tukang dormitory sets a new benchmark for safety, for comfort and also for dignity.

“And we hope that this will inspire the wider industry to improve the standards, so that more workers can benefit in the years ahead,” he said.

Dr Tan said Singapore has made significant progress in housing, healthcare and recreation since launching a migrant workforce resilience roadmap in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the improvements were the result of collective efforts involving the Government and multiple stakeholders.