Speech by Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong at the Launch of the SG50 Healthcare Commemorative Book and Ministry of Health’s Long Service Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 8 October 2015, 1500 hrs at Suntec Convention Centre

My Parliamentary Colleagues, Dr Amy Khor, Dr Teo Ho Pin, former Minister for Health Mr Yeo Cheow Tong

Pioneers and Colleagues from the Healthcare Family

Distinguished Guests

INTRODUCTION

            Good afternoon. I am honoured to join everyone here in recognising the many men and women who have contributed to Singapore’s healthcare through the years, as we mark our Golden Jubilee. Today we will also see the launch of the SG50 Healthcare Commemorative Book and award presentation of our Long Service Award recipients who have given their time and expertise to serve in our committees.

2          As a healthcare family, we are all saddened by the Hepatitis C Cluster at Singapore General Hospital and our thoughts are with the patients and their families. We will provide them with necessary support and treatment. We will learn from this incident and improve ourselves. I am also grateful to many of you here who have worked hard to care for our patients.

Launch of the SG50 Healthcare Commemorative Book

3          2015 has been a special year for Singapore. We came together at the beginning of the year to commemorate the life of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and said our last goodbyes to him. On our 50^th National Day, we stood as one people as we sang the National Anthem and said our National Pledge at the National Day Parade.

4          Singapore’s public health system and medical services have made significant progress over the years. Along the way, we had our share of challenges and even setbacks. But we worked to overcome each of these, and determined to do better.

5          Our healthcare is a rich tapestry woven by the stories of all the men and women who have served devotedly the people of Singapore. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has therefore commissioned the SG50 Healthcare Commemorative Book, titled “Caring for our People: 50 Years of Healthcare in Singapore” to put on record, the contributions made by the many people who worked in the healthcare system. Let me mention just a few of them.

6          First, Dr Kwa Soon Bee, Permanent Secretary for Health and Director of Medical Services from 1984 to 1996. Unfortunately, Dr Kwa is unable to join us today.  He is largely credited with modernising Singapore’s healthcare landscape as well as the rebuilding and consolidation of government healthcare facilities, including polyclinics. Dr Kwa also made talent and leadership development a personal priority.  For many of our current healthcare leaders, Dr Kwa was a guiding light and a mentor.

7          Another healthcare leader featured in the book is Dr Pauline Tan, our former Chief Nursing Officer for seven years. Pauline started out as a rookie nurse and she is now CEO of Yishun Community Hospital, a credit to nursing and a testament that no job is too big for a nurse.  In this book she shares her story with us, and what she learnt along the way.

8          The book also features the men and women at the frontlines. These include Madam Wong Poh Choo, a portering assistant at KTPH; Mr Chandra Palany, an ambulance driver, who for 33 years, has been transporting patients to the hospital quickly and safely; and Nurse-Clinician Noor Melati Ahmad from NUH, who survived SARS. Their daily dedication to the job, year-in-and-year out, represent the strong ethos of service and excellence which characterise our healthcare professionals at all levels.

9          Besides healthcare professionals, the book also features the contributions of volunteers and patients. The Caring Clowns, a team of volunteers who bring cheer to sick children at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, perform magic and juggling tricks to bring joy and happiness to young patients and their families. Mr K. Selvarajoo, who received a life-saving blood transfusion as a child, has been donating blood yearly since he was 18 years old, in gratitude for the kindness he himself received. Besides being an active blood donor, he also organises annual blood donation drives in the community. We need more volunteers like him.

MOH Long Service Awards

10        Similarly, there are many friends of MOH who have made invaluable contributions to help us develop our healthcare standards, regulations and principles through the years. The MOH Long Service awards to be given out today recognise 187 individuals for their years of commitment to over 90 MOH committees in various areas, such as professional standards and regulation, health advisory, medical ethics, health promotion, and Medifund Committees. They volunteer their time and share their knowledge and experience with MOH. Of these 187 individuals, 51 have served at least 10 years with MOH in these committees. I am pleased to note that two have served 20 years with us. I applaud all of you for your contributions.

11        One example is Mr Zulkifli Bin Mohammed who has served as a member of the Changi General Hospital Medifund Committee since 2004, and as its Chairman since 2011. He is also very much involved in social causes, serving as a member of the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees to the Tabung Amal Aidilfitri (TAA) Trust Fund which provides financial assistance to disadvantaged families during the month of Ramadan. He also serves as an advisor to six unions affiliated to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

12        Another award recipient today is Associate Professor Sonny Wang, Emeritus Consultant at the Tuberculosis Control Unit in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Working tirelessly in the fight against tuberculosis, A/Prof Wang has been instrumental in the establishment and implementation of the Singapore Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP) since 1997, which led to the significant decline in local tuberculosis rates. In addition to serving on various MOH committees and advisory panels, he has also served as the Chair of MOH’s Haze Advisory Panel since its formation in 1997. Under his able leadership, the Panel has provided the public and government agencies with credible, sound and relevant advice relating to the health impact of haze.  With his long years of contribution and commitment, A/Prof Wang has made outstanding contributions to MOH and exemplifies the true spirit of public service.  

FUTURE OF SINGAPORE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE

13        In the next few decades, Singapore’s population will age rapidly. We will need to keep pace and transform the way we deliver care to the community and promote healthy living. I look forward to working with many of you and I look forward to your continued support for our work moving forward.

CONCLUSION

14        In closing, I would like to thank our healthcare pioneers, healthcare professionals and volunteers for your unwavering commitment to the Singapore public healthcare system. I hope that your stories and the stories in this book will inspire our current and future generations of healthcare professionals and volunteers to continue to work tirelessly to care for our patients. Thank you.