Singapore’s 1st Medical Coworking Space Sees Encouraging Demand
SINGAPORE – Core Clinic, which is touted as the first coworking space for medical and healthcare professionals in the city-state, is poised to open for operations by early May 2022. Even though it hasn’t officially opened, demand for the space there has been encouraging so far, reported The Edge on Thursday afternoon (14 April, SGT).
In fact, 2 of the 3 medical suites available have been leased out on a one-year basis. One was taken up by an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, while the other was occupied by a dermatology practice, said Michelle Yong, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Core Collective.
“We might convert some of the wellness rooms (at Core Collective i12 Katong) into medical suites if demand proves to be more than what we have initially catered,” she revealed.
Notably, Core Clinic is a 50:50 joint venture between Aurum Land and Singapore Medical Group (SMG), a listed firm that has a network of over 30 private clinics located across Singapore. And Core Collective is the coworking platform of Aurum Land that caters to fitness and wellness practitioners.
Core Collective i12 Katong is its first branch in Singapore’s east. The 7,000 sq ft facility contains a gym and functional training area. It also comes with an occupational therapy room and a physical rehab area, as well as 10 treatment and consultation rooms.
The new outlet represents Core Collective’s 3rd facility in Singapore. In 2018, it opened its first branch at the 79 Anson Road office building in Singapore’s central business district (CBD). The 23,500 sq ft facility mainly targets working professionals who train at the gym or go for group fitness classes. Then in 2019, the platform opened another outlet at Loewen Road. With about 130,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor premises, the customers of that branch primarily comprise families and those who live in the vicinity.
One thing that separates the i12 Katong branch from the other two outlets is that it’s Core Collective’s 1st location to offer its new medical coworking concept, and it is also licensed for use as a medical facility under the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Doctors can book a medical suite there on four-hour time blocks, with a booking requirement of at least 3 blocks per week. Rates are charged monthly, ranging between S$2,500 and S$6,800, depending on how many blocks were booked per week.
Yong pointed out that the practice of sharing workspace among private specialist doctors is already fairly common in Singapore. “We already see a lot of doctors share clinics, with different days for different doctors at that same clinic.”
However, such arrangement entails physicians to coordinate schedules, and it’s inflexible for walk-in appointments or changes in schedules.
Nonetheless, Core Clinic aims to offer a hassle-free solution, enabling doctors and medical professionals to reserve a workspace to use as and when needed. Doctors who use the space will have access to a medical concierge supported by SMG’s 24-hour call centre. They will also be able to purchase medical supplies for use at the facility via Core Clinic.
