Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the National Healthcare Group "Honouring our Pioneers" Tribute Event on 8 November 2014

Mdm Kay Kuok, Chairman, National Healthcare Group

Prof Chee Yam Cheng, Group CEO, National Healthcare Group

NHG Senior Management

NHG Pioneers

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good afternoon.

2. Today, I’m privileged to be in the company of many healthcare Pioneers. Earlier this year, the Pioneer Generation Package was introduced to recognise and thank Singapore’s Pioneers for their dedication and invaluable contributions to nation-building. This afternoon, I am very privileged to be able to say a personal “Thank You” in person to all who have served in the healthcare sector, particularly in the National Healthcare Group.

3. In its relatively short history, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) has already paved the way on several fronts. For example, the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), through the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC), has been at the forefront of major infectious disease challenges in Singapore. Few of us would remember, in fact many of us have not been born yet, but in the early 1900s, the Centre had battled smallpox, plague, diphtheria, thyroid, cholera as well as malaria. But I am sure many of us would remember that in 2003, TTSH was the designated centre when the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or more commonly known as SARS, hit Singapore. Today, the CDC is recognised as the centre for dengue and many other infectious diseases in our battle against these diseases.

4. Whether you are a doctor, nurse, allied health professional or administrative and support staff, you have contributed in one way or another to the health and well-being of Singaporeans. Collectively, you have served and looked after many Singaporeans in your respective institutions over the years. Many of you have since retired but there are quite a number of you who are still contributing to the healthcare sector.

5. While your work may have spanned many different areas, one fact remains – none of what we have achieved today would have been possible without the vision, dedication and drive of our Pioneers. A noteworthy example is the building of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which would not have been realised without the vision of our late Mr Tan Tock Seng, a Pioneer himself. I am heartened to note that such pioneering spirit is still very much alive among our Pioneers today.

6. Allow me to mention a few NHG Pioneers who may be seated among us:

a. Health Attendant, Mr Jabar Bin Shamsudin, has 49 years of service in healthcare. He currently still works in ward 75A of IMH and has forged very close ties with his colleagues, so much so that he considers them his friends and family.

b. Senior Nurse Manager, Mr Harbhajan Singh – has seen 55 years of service in healthcare and is the longest serving nurse at TTSH. Despite his many years in the healthcare sector, Mr Singh has not found a dull moment in his job and in fact has been happily re-employed since 2002. He now works on flexi-hours.

c. Associate Professor Giam Yoke Chin from the National Skin Centre has served more than 40 years in the industry. She is known for her work on Paediatric Dermatology.

d. Dr Meenakshi Sundararaman from the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) made headway in public primary healthcare at a time when primary healthcare in Singapore was at its infancy. She has a distinguished career spanning more than 36 years.

e. Last but not least, the NHG Group CEO Prof Chee Yam Cheng, an Emeritus Consultant, has worked over 38 years in our healthcare group. He is a great teacher locally and overseas, a man of few words but inspires all with his intellect, boundless energy, humility, passion for healthcare and compassion for the patients.

7. There are many more dedicated NHG Pioneers whom I would not be able to mention all, but I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to every one of you who have made invaluable contributions to the health of Singaporeans. In your diverse roles, you have each played an important part in making NHG’s vision of “Adding years of healthy life” come alive with your compassion, care and commitment to healthcare which has benefitted many Singaporeans.

8. On behalf of my colleagues at the Ministry of Health and all Singaporeans, thank you for being the pillars of Singapore’s healthcare family and an inspiration to us all. We will continue to work hard and build upon the foundation you have laid for us, towards a home where our families and children can live long and live well.

9. Thank you and have an enjoyable afternoon.