Singapore overtook Hong Kong to top a ranking of the most efficient health-care systems, as the Government boosts spending on medical services to support an ageing population.

The South-east Asian nation was rated first among 51 economies, according to an annual ranking compiled by Bloomberg that tracks factors including life expectancy, the cost of health care as a percentage of gross domestic product and total medical expenditure for each person.

Hong Kong dropped to second place and Italy was ranked third, while the US was 44th and Russia last.

“I describe Singapore’s system as the least imperfect in the world,” said Dr Jeremy Lim, head of Oliver Wyman’s Asia-Pacific health and life sciences practice.

Singapore's health-care system tops efficiency ranking among 51 economies - Thai PBS English News