Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOS) To Play A Bigger Role In Step-Down Healthcare

10 Dec 2001

Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital to be Run by VWO

From next year, Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) are poised to play a bigger role in healthcare for the community. Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THKMS) and Chee Hoon Kog Moral Promotion Society (CHKMPS) will run the 200-bedded Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital (AMKH) with effect from 1 Apr 2002.

Currently, the other community hospitals - St Luke's Hospital for the Elderly and St Andrew's Community Hospital are run by VWOs. Another two new community hospitals which are also run by VWOs, namely Ren Ci Community Hospital and Bright Vision Hospital, will be operational next year.

The change in AMKH management is in line with the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s long term plan for all step down care, including community hospitals, to be run by VWOs or the private sector. MOH's plan is for the public sector to focus its resources on ambulatory care and acute care, and for VWOs and the private sector to be responsible for all stepdown care, as they are in a good position to help patients rehabilitate and re-integrate into the community. As more and more VWOs have gained expertise and experience in running step down care facilities, MOH decided that it is timely to hand over the running of AMKH to a VWO.

The Ministry will continue to provide financial and professional support to AMKH. AMKH will receive government funding according to prevailing subsidy principles for VWOs. Specialists from the restructured hospitals will provide support on professional matters. Thus, the transfer would not affect the operational and professional services of the community hospital. Dr Lau Hong Choon, Administrator, AMKH said, "The present staff of the hospital will also continue with the new management."

THKMS has appointed a Board of Directors chaired by Dr Chan Kin Ming, a geriatrician in private practice, to oversee the smooth transfer of management. Dr Chan said, "Patient care and staff welfare will continue to be the new management's top priority." Patients and staff of all races and religions will be equally welcomed. There will be no disruption to services and care provided in AMKH. As a VWO, THKMS-CHKMPS will be able to provide financial assistance to supplement government subsidy if necessary. THKMS-CHKMPS will continue to uphold the high standard of care for the patients and ensure that medical care in AMKH remains affordable to Singaporeans.

THKMS and CHKMPS have invited a panel of prominent professionals and community leaders to sit on the Board of Directors of the Hospital. The Board is chaired by Dr Chan, a geriatrician in private practice. The societies have established a Medical Advisory Board to oversee professional matters. The Advisory Board is chaired by Emeritus Professor Edward P.C. Tock, Senior Consultant in Pathology, National University Hospital and former Dean, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore. Both the Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board also include several professionals with the necessary expertise for good corporate and professional governance. Mr Lee Kim Siang, Chairman of the THKMS and CHKMPS, is a lawyer who has been involved in the work of the two societies for many years. THKMS and CHKMPS undertake charitable work to serve fellow citizens, young and old, rich or poor, of all races, religions and cultures.

The contracts and agreement with existing tenants at AMKH, would remain unchanged under the new management.