Address by SPS(Health) at SingHealth HDMP Reception 2008

24 Jul 2008

By Mr Hawazi Daipi

Mr Bernard Chen, Chairman, Singhealth

Prof Tan Ser Kiat, GCEO, Singhealth

Prof Fock Kwong Ming, Chairman for Singhealth HMDP Committee

Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening

1. It gives me great pleasure to join all of you here today at the SingHealth Health Manpower Development Plan (HDMP) Reception 2008.

BACKGROUND

2. The Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) was introduced by MOH close to 30 years ago. Its main objectives were to develop our health manpower capabilities, as well as to improve the quality and service of our healthcare provisions. Many healthcare professionals have been sent to numerous centres of excellence around the world for skills attachments. In addition, visiting experts from top institutions overseas are also invited here to share their expertise with our healthcare professionals. Through these important platforms of learning and sharing, our network of experts and clinical capabilities have been vastly enhanced, to enable us to truly achieve a healthcare system in Singapore that we can all be proud of. 

ALIGNING INVESTMENT WITH NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND CARE FOR AN AGEING POPULATION

3. The overall allocation of HMDP fellowships should be strategically aligned with our national priorities.  Indeed one of the national priorities we spoke about at last year’s Award ceremony, was the aging population needing more attention & skilled care.  With the rapidly ageing population, we must prepare for a healthcare system and workforce that can cater to their needs. Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases with increasing age necessitates a healthcare system that is able to allow patients to transit seamlessly between the different levels of care, from tertiary to step-down and eventually to primary and community care. It is also essential for healthcare professionals to be trained in the various aspects of geriatric care as the healthcare needs of geriatric patients are markedly different from the young.

TEAM-BASED AWARDS

4. Delivering patient-centric care for the elderly requires integrated care across various specialties and professions. To do this well, MOH encourages coordinated teams of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to be sent for HMDP fellowships wherever possible. This  promotes team-based medical care  within institutions which we hope will translate into better holistic care for the patients and ultimately better clinical outcomes.

5. I am glad that Singhealth, which has always placed its emphasis on aligning its HMDP awards with the priority areas identified by MOH and the continual development of talent, has placed much emphasis on team-based programmes.  It is heartening to note that Singhealth has a record number of 145 awards in 2008, which includes 14-team based programmes.  I am told that this number of team-based awards in 2008 represents a 50% increase over 2007 and more than one-third of the MOH's HMDP budget is allocated for the team-based programmes. Moving forward, we will up this ratio to half by 2010 as part of our continuous efforts to promote team-based Fellowship programmes. Combining the $2.5 million from SingHealth Foundation, the total HMDP budget for 2008 amounts close to $5.4 million.

6. I understand that in 2007, some of the team-based programmes supported initiatives launched by the institutions, such as Sports Medicine and Addiction Medicine. In 2008, team-based programmes include "Motivational enhancement therapy for eating disorders" and “Elderly care” for the support services that are being launched or expanded at the institutions. 

GERIATRIC PROGRAMMES

7. I am happy to see that this year’s HMDP has focused on programmes for the elderly.  These programmes, I am told are not only hospital-based but also at the primary care level.  The team-based programme on “Elderly Care” by Changi General Hospital comprises a multi-disciplinary team which includes a geriatrician, an orthopaedic surgeon, a medical social worker and two nurses. This team will, upon their return, certainly enhance existing geriatric services by improving clinical skills, focusing on integration of psychogeriatric services and implementing the Aged Care Transition Teams, set up to coordinate care and manage discharged patients.  This programme will further reinforce the collaboration between CGH and its adjacent St Andrews’ Community Hospital.

FELLOWSHIPS FOR GERONTOLOGY

8. Having identified gerontology as one of the priority areas for strategic development by the nursing team for 2008, a new initiative has been launched whereby Fellowships are awarded to nurses to pursue formal certification programmes and skills training in gerontology.  I am pleased that two nurses will be pursuing the Advanced Diploma in Gerontology Nursing this year.

9. I applaud your effort in taking up the challenge to provide care of high quality and standards for elderly Singaporeans and urge the development of more collaborative team effort in bringing about innovative models of care delivery for the elderly and the acquisition of specialized skills in geriatric care by more healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

10. Finally, let me congratulate all recipients of the HMDP award.  We are proud that you are among the best. You have the opportunity to learn new skills or knowledge, and broaden your life experience. Share your experience with fellow colleagues just as you learn from others so that more may benefit.  Let me wish you a happy and enriching experience as you embark on this opportunity to work among the best in the world.

11. Thank you.