As the saying goes — in life, nothing is certain except for death and taxes.
Thankfully, we have better access to healthcare today compared with the past, helping us live longer.
Meanwhile, if we assemble a strong dividend portfolio, it can generate income to help pay our taxes.
In this context, investing in dividend stocks from the healthcare industry kills two birds with one stone ….
…and in the process, it also helps you stave off two of life’s eventualities.
The Healthy Choice
Healthcare is not just about hospitals and clinics.
The field of opportunities is wide, ranging from drug manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, hospital suppliers and distributors of medical-related products.
Examples of healthcare-related companies include:
- Global biopharmaceutical firm Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), which doesn’t need any introduction, has a large presence in Asia.
- Malaysia’s Top Glove (SGX: BVA), the world’s largest disposable gloves manufacturer, is a key supplier to hospitals around the world.
- Japan’s Olympus (JPX: 7733) is the global market leader in endoscopes.
… and that’s not the end of the investment opportunities.
Your Healthcare Masterplan
Singapore’s masterplan for the future of the nation’s healthcare acts as a valuable guide for investors.
The government’s efforts extend beyond healthcare by encouraging its residents to lead a healthier life and expanding healthcare delivery beyond hospitals.
These initiatives suggest that there are investment opportunities in helping the population keep fit, stay healthy, and gain better access to healthcare services at affordable prices.
The Ministry of Health’s (MOH) three-pronged approach shifts the focus from healthcare to health, community and value.
Beyond healthcare to health: As another saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
Encouraging a healthier lifestyle is key to reducing the progression of chronic diseases and stopping the typical causes of ill health.
This movement could benefit companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), which sold an estimated 33 million Apple Watches in 2025 alone.
Awareness of personal and living hygiene is also on the rise, judging by the rising demand for personal care and home care products.
That’s certainly what we see when we drill down into individual companies.
For instance, Reckitt Benckiser’s (LSE: RKT) Dettol revenue has remained robust, with the brand now standing as its largest ‘Powerbrand’ by revenue, driven specifically by a decade-high growth streak in China and expanded distribution in India.
Beyond healthcare to community: While the pandemic first accelerated the shift of resources away from hospitals, this has now evolved into a permanent decentralisation of care.
Today, the healthcare delivery system continues to move deeper into the community, prioritising home-based monitoring and local health hubs to improve accessibility and lower costs.
For instance, Abbott Laborataries’ (NASDAQ: ABT) FreeStyle Libre device, a continuous glucose monitoring system, generated US$7.6 billion in revenue for FY2025, reflecting a 17.4% organic growth rate as the platform cements itself as a primary growth engine for the company.
With Asia having the highest instances of diabetes mellitus, more devices that help manage the incurable disease will be needed.
Beyond healthcare to value: Rising costs are also intensifying the focus on resource efficiency.
Thankfully, companies such as Singapore’s Raffles Medical Group (SGX: BSL) are doing their part.
The Singapore group adheres to the Group Practice Model, a mode of practice that is adopted by internationally-renowned institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Under this model, patients are treated by a team of multi-disciplinary physicians, thereby providing coordinated, quality care.
It’s good for the business too, as the company’s management credits its approach to setting itself apart from competitors.
Get Smart: Tailwinds On Our Back
When it comes to investing, it’s always better to have the tailwinds at our back rather than to fight against persistent headwinds.
Back home, Singapore’s healthcare market is expected to reach S$68.7 billion by 2029, according to Fitch Solutions.
Singapore officially transitioned into a ‘super-aged’ society in 2026, with more than 21% of the population now aged 65 and above.
To meet this structural shift, the government’s healthcare budget is projected to rise significantly, reaching an estimated S$30 billion by 2030 – up from S$21 billion in 2025.
While a sizeable portion of the market spend comes from the government, private companies will have plenty of room to play their part in supporting the population’s healthcare needs.
We can see that there is a wide range of needs to be served, providing a fertile ground for investment opportunities.
As a Smart Investor, we are better off putting our money where the growth is most likely to happen.
And for us, Asian healthcare looks like the next big thing.
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Disclosure: The Smart Investor owns shares of Abbott and Raffles Medical.
