Singapore's Health Ministry is keen to work with providers of palliative care services to expand the sector, Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor has said.

The ministry would like the services to cover not only patients with cancer, but also patients with other terminal illnesses, the Straits Times on Sunday quoted her as saying.

The number of patients under home palliative care has trebled since 2009 to about 5,000 nowadays, majority of which are cancer patients.

Nine organizations currently provide in-patient and home palliative care.

More will need to be done, with demand for palliative care expected to double by 2020 when more than 10,000 patients per year will require palliative care, Khor said.

"Many patients want to be cared for and to pass on in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by family and loved ones," she said.