Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the Official Opening of Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Rehabilitation Centre, 8 October 2016

Mr Choo Eng Chuan, Chairman, Council of Singapore Cancer Society

Dr Ng Yee Sien, Chairman, Singapore Cancer Society Cancer Rehabilitation Management Committee

Mr Albert Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cancer Society

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen 

1.         Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you here this morning at the official opening of the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Rehabilitation Centre. 

Importance of cancer rehabilitation 

2.         Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Singapore last year contributing to 30 per cent of total deaths. 

3.         At the same time, with much better acute cancer care, there is a rising number of cancer survivors, although many of these survivors have to cope with lasting impairments and disabilities brought on by the disease or treatment. 

4.         A survey by the SCS Cancer Rehabilitation Task Force in 2014 found that more than 80 per cent of cancer patients reported some changes in their physical abilities as a result of cancer and its treatment. These individuals often need both physical therapy as well as psychosocial support. Some may even require help to perform very basic functions such as walking, swallowing, bathing and dressing.[1] 

5.         Fortunately, these cancer related impairments can be improved with timely rehabilitation. 

6.         Such rehabilitative services help not only patients but also their caregivers, who will receive training that will guide them in their caregiving journey. 

SCS Rehabilitation Centre 

7.         To date, specialised cancer rehabilitation services and programmes have been limited to the hospital-setting. As a result, most patients are unable to receive sufficient follow-up rehabilitation after they have been discharged from the hospital. In this regard, I am glad that SCS, with its rehabilitation centre, will help to close that gap. 

8.         The SCS rehabilitation centre, being a one-stop community-based centre, complements existing services in the hospitals. It offers patients and survivors an integrated model of rehabilitative care, all within a single location. All enrolled patients will have a Cancer Care Navigator to guide them in their journey with SCS.  Referring healthcare providers will also receive periodic updates on their patients’ progress to ensure continuity of care. 

9.         Besides physical therapy and nutrition counselling programmes, the centre also offers psychosocial services, enrichment workshops, and support programmes for those living with and beyond cancer. Here, caregivers can also receive training that will help them care for their loved ones and themselves, especially in managing emotional challenges, learning patient transfer techniques, and understanding suitable home modifications that will be useful. I am also glad that the centre will also address issues beyond medical concerns. Its upcoming Return-to-Work programme will facilitate the retraining of recovering cancer patients, to build confidence and reintegrate them back into the workforce. 

10.       Additionally, advanced stage cancer patients who can still benefit from rehabilitation are also able to receive the services at home. The SCS hospice home care team will refer these patients to the centre’s staff, who will step in to provide rehabilitation in their homes. 

11.       Since the rehabilitation centre opened its doors in November last year, more than 70 patients and survivors have benefitted from its holistic support. I am glad to note that SCS will continue to work closely with its partners to facilitate patient transition to the new centre. I understand that there are SCS satellite offices at SGH National Cancer Centre Singapore and NUH National Cancer Institute of Singapore which will further enhance the ease of referral so that more can embark on a structured rehabilitation program in a timely manner.

Conclusion 

12.       The SCS has come a long way, since it was set up in 1964, in providing support and holistic care to cancer patients and survivors. I would like to congratulate SCS on the opening of its rehabilitation centre and I look forward to its continued contributions. 

13.       Thank you.

^[1] This survey employed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30 - version 3) questionnaire.  Results are reported in SCS Cancer Rehabilitation Task Force, Cancer Rehabilitation – Bridging the Gap in Cancer Survivorship