Patients want to remain healthy for longer, rather than simply live longer.

Fullerton Health Group of Companies has opened its Signature Longevity & Wellness Centre in Singapore, as patients and employers place greater emphasis on prevention and healthy ageing rather than treatment alone.

“In the past, people just wanted to live longer,” Ho Kuen Loon, group CEO at Fullerton Health, told Healthcare Asia. “The notion today is that they really want to increase their health span rather than just their lifespan.”

Ho said the shift is reflected in conversations with clients, customers, and patients, as well as in the company's own data.

Fullerton has recorded higher demand for executive health screening and general medical checkups in Singapore and the Philippines, alongside growing interest in vaccination, wellness, and preventive care, he said.

The centre moves away from the traditional annual checkup model. Patients undergo an initial assessment to identify health risks and return every three or six months for targeted follow-up care.

“You do not wait a year,” Ho said via Zoom. “The frequency is important.”

For patients with conditions such as high cholesterol, interventions may begin with dietary and lifestyle changes before progressing to medical treatment when needed.

“By doing all these things, we are very certain that we can avoid more costly treatment later,” he said.

Employer demand also influenced the launch. Fullerton Health covers more than one million employees in Singapore, and Ho said executive health screening, vaccination programmes, and workplace wellness initiatives continue to attract strong participation from employers.

He added that employers increasingly want evidence that preventive care delivers measurable benefits, as the returns often emerge years after the initial investment.

Even when companies pay for health screening, however, only about 20% to 30% of employees participate, Ho said.

“We try to convince people that it is for their own good,” Ho said.

The centre operates alongside Aspire Surgery Centre, Fullerton Health's day-surgery facility. Ho said the company would evaluate the model based on clinical outcomes, patient recovery, costs, and patient feedback.

Fullerton Health expects its next longevity and wellness centre to open in either the Philippines or Indonesia within two to three years, he added.