Speech by Minister Gan Kim Yong at the Singapore Pharmacy Council Pharmacist's Pledge Affirmation Ceremony, 9 May 2014

Mr Wu Tuck Seng, President, Singapore Pharmacy Council,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Newly Registered Pharmacists and Guests, 
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening.

 1.        It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the 2014 Singapore Pharmacy Council’s Pledge Affirmation Ceremony, to welcome the new pharmacists into our healthcare family.  My warmest congratulations to all the newly registered pharmacists.

2.         For many of you who have just completed your undergraduate training, the pledge that you take today will mark the transition to your new career as a pharmacist. Your family members and friends, who are here to witness this milestone in your life, will be very proud and happy to celebrate your achievements with you.

Building capacity and accessibility of healthcare systems with expanded pharmaceutical care

3.         The Ministry of Health is working towards the Healthcare 2020 vision of improving the accessibility, quality and affordability of healthcare to meet the needs of Singapore. Pharmacists, who are part of the healthcare team, play an integral role in attaining this vision.  Pharmacists will have to collaborate effectively within and beyond the pharmacy community to provide team-based patient-centric and holistic care. I believe that pharmacists are well-positioned to drive and support changes to improve care delivery, not only because of your expertise in medication management, but also as advocates of healthy living and disease prevention. I am heartened to know that the pharmacy profession is strongly supporting MOH’s Healthcare 2020 vision. Pharmacists in different sectors have started various initiatives, including participating in home visits as part of team-based care, performing medication reviews at nursing homes, and  organising public education talks and campaigns to help patients and caregivers gain greater knowledge about medications and their health.

4.         Such efforts are key as Singapore’s demography changes and we have more seniors in our midst. Our seniors have contributed much to build the Singapore we have today, and we want to make sure that they are well supported so that they can remain active and healthy for as long as they can.

5          To adequately meet the healthcare needs of the population, including the changing lifestyles of Singaporeans, we will be increasing healthcare capacity and accessibility across various care settings. MOH is actively building up manpower capabilities in the healthcare sector, driving innovation and productivity, and supported by a sustainable healthcare financing system. The National University of Singapore has been expanding the intake of pharmacy students. It is on track to eventually produce 240 pharmacy graduates per year to meet our needs. 

Raising the quality of care for Singaporeans

6.         However, increasing capacity alone is not sustainable in the long term. Therefore, Healthcare 2020 is not just about building capacity, but also about improving the capability of our healthcare professionals and raising the quality of care for Singaporeans. Pharmacists should practise at the top of their licence, based on recognised standards and criteria.  

7.       I am pleased to hear that the NUS Department of Pharmacy will be enhancing the curriculum of its undergraduate pharmacy degree programme. Students enrolling in the programme in August this year will be the first to benefit from the curriculum enhancements. The enhanced programme will provide students with a more holistic education, which integrates professional skills with clinical training and experiential learning. Our pharmacy graduates should then be more effective in the new roles expected of them, so that they can continue to make important contributions to the care of patients, the pharmacy profession as well as the healthcare sector in Singapore.

8.         We have established the Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board to oversee the accreditation of specialist pharmacists. These specialist pharmacists practise oncology pharmacy and advanced pharmacotherapy, in the areas of infectious diseases, cardiology, geriatrics and psychiatry. This is one of the leading developments towards advanced pharmacist practise in the world. It will create more opportunities and career pathways for pharmacists to excel in the designated specialty patient care areas. Specialist pharmacists are needed to manage complex cases and complement the clinical care delivery of other healthcare professionals in their organisations. I am pleased to share that so far, 28 pharmacists have been accredited by the Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board.

9.         I am also very happy to learn that pharmacists are embracing the challenges of translational research, such as in the area of infectious diseases by the Singapore General Hospital pharmacy researchers. The project has translated useful results from bench to bedside, to optimise management of patients with multi-drug resistant infection. I encourage more pharmacists to join in the efforts in seeking more breakthroughs that would benefit our patients.  

PHARMACIST’S PLEDGE

10.       To the newly registered pharmacists, I hope the solemn promises you make today will guide you as you embark on your profession, remind you to always maintain the highest standards of moral integrity and honesty, and to always put the interests of your patients above your own. The pledge signifies your continued commitment to uphold the values essential to the pharmacy profession. I hope you will demonstrate the qualities reflected in the pledge, regardless of your area of practice and the company or employer you work for.

11.       Thank you for joining us on this healthcare journey, and I look forward to many years of contributions from you, as we work towards strengthening our healthcare system and promoting healthier lifestyles among our fellow Singaporeans.

CONCLUSION

12.       Congratulations once again, and I wish each of you a successful and fulfilling career ahead of you.

13.       Thank you.