The Official Opening Of The Diabetes Care Centre And Preventive Healthcare Centre, Mount Elizabeth Hospital

15 Jun 2006

By Mr Heng Chee How, Minister Of State For Health

Venue: Mt Elizabeth Hospital

Dr Lim Cheok Peng

Managing Director, Parkway Group Healthcare

Mrs Nellie Tang

General Manager, Mt Elizabeth Hospital

Dr Akira Wu

Medical Director, Diabetes Care Centre

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

INTRODUCTION

It is my pleasure to join you this morning for the Official Opening of Mount Elizabeth Hospital's Diabetes Care Centre (DCC) and Preventive Healthcare Centre (PHC).  These two centres serve a very important role in response to the need for a holistic approach towards chronic disease management. 

2.         The burden of chronic diseases in Singapore is growing as our population ages. In particular, the Ministry of Health's National Health Survey in 2004 found that 8.2% of Singaporeans or over 300,000 people had diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes increases sharply with age. For those aged 18 to 29 years, 1 in 200 Singaporeans have diabetes. This increases to 1 in 12 for adults aged 40 to 49 years, and 1 in 3 for those aged 60 to 69 years. In this regard I am happy to note that Mount Elizabeth Hospital is focusing on preventive healthcare and holistic diabetes care.

PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE

3.         It is important that we prevent or delay the onset of chronic diseases, and patients are diagnosed as soon as possible when they develop chronic medical conditions. The Mount Elizabeth Preventive Healthcare Centre has been set-up to address these needs. I understand that the centre was set-up in 2001 to provide lifestyle management and behaviour modification to prevent the onset of chronic illnesses and medical problems. Through a variety of health screening packages, it has screened many patients for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders and cancers. In February this year, the centre was relocated to Paragon and its range of services further widened to include weight management, smoking cessation, back care and stress management.

4.         My Ministry, in partnership with the Health Promotion Board, has implemented many strategies to empower Singaporeans with the knowledge and ability to take responsibility of their own heath and well-being. This includes the National Healthy Lifestyle Programme, the National Smoking Control Programme and the Check Your Health Programme. The Preventive Healthcare Centre complements these programmes by providing an important service for Singaporeans and foreigners who prefer a more personalised approach.

DIABETES

5.         Even with the best preventive efforts, a significant number of Singaporeans will still develop diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease which can lead to multiple complications and premature death if left undiagnosed or poorly controlled. These complications include blindness, kidney failure, coronary heart disease and limb amputations. As such, it is crucial to prevent such complications with close monitoring and appropriate medical follow-up.

6.     As diabetes affects every major organ and system in the body, the management and care of diabetes can be complex and thus require a team-based approach. In this regard, my Ministry is currently working on the use of Medisave for chronic disease management. Chronic Disease Management is based on the family physician as the primary care provider and central co-ordinator of the patient's care, with referrals to the various members of the disease management team as necessary.

7.     For patients who prefer more personalised care in the private sector, the Diabetes Care Centre will provide holistic and integrated management of patients with diabetes, from the newly diagnosed to those with multiple complications. Such centres fulfil the patient's need for a one-stop facility with modern equipment, combined with a well qualified multi-disciplinary team comprising of a doctor, a diabetes nurse, a dietician, a counsellor, a podiatrist and an exercise trainer. Specialists like endocrinologists, cardiologists, ophthalmologists, and nephrologists are also just a stone's throw away.

CONCLUSION

8.     In conclusion, I applaud Mount Elizabeth Hospital for its role in the holistic and integrated management of chronic diseases like diabetes. This will no doubt contribute to the health of our people and promote Singapore's goal as a regional medical hub. I wish the management and staff of the Diabetes Care Centre and Preventive Healthcare Centre continued success. 

Thank you.