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10 Jul 2006
By Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health
Venue: The Glass Hall, Singapore Art Museun
This afternoon, we gather here to pay tribute to two groups of healthcare professionals who have done Singapore proud. It is a tribute to the competence of our healthcare professionals and our healthcare system.
The first group comprises the SNEC ophthalmologists led by Prof Donald Tan and MOH epidemiologists whose findings led the MOH to issue its first public alert on Feb 17 to the rising incidence of contact lens related fungal corneal infections. Their findings suggested a strong link between the potentially blinding eye infection and Bausch and Lomb's ReNu multipurpose contact lens solution. This and subsequent public alerts reverberated beyond Singapore, leading eventually to the worldwide recall of ReNu Moistureloc by Bausch and Lomb on May 15, almost 3 months later. Singapore's role as the first to sound the alert was recognised by authorities and reported by the media from around the world. Their action must have saved the sight of many contact-lens users.
The second group comprises doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals from the public, private and civic sectors who responded to the call for humanitarian relief operation following the Jogyakarta earthquake of May 27. The earthquake killed about 6,200 and injured more than 50,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of Javanese were left homeless. Our medical teams were among the first to be at the affected areas.
In both events, decisive and well-coordinated actions by dedicated healthcare professionals brought relief and averted further suffering. While the nature of the events was different, our healthcare professionals who participated in them demonstrated three key qualities that exemplify them at their best.
VIGILANCE AND PREPAREDNESS
First, vigilance and preparedness. Despite medical advances, the best first line of defense against disease outbreaks, whether natural or man-made, is still the vigilant clinician. In the ReNu incident, our SNEC clinicians performed this role with distinction. As the national centre for eye diseases, they had collectively a critical mass of complicated cases. Individually, they noticed that they were treating more fungal keratitis cases than usual. But they did not stop there. They discussed with their colleagues, compared notes and detected a disturbing trend. They were alert to the public health implications of their findings and promptly notified the Health Sciences Authority and our epidemiologists.
Although the Jogyakarta earthquake caught everyone by surprise, we were ready to render assistance when the call came. The rapid response did not occur by chance. We had learnt from our previous exercises, built up our pool of volunteers and fine-tuned our plans.
PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION
Second, professionalism and dedication. At Yogyakarta, our relief teams worked in trying conditions, made worse by torrential rains. Many had to travel long hours to reach the injured. But they pressed on with determination. Despite shortages in electricity, water, medical supplies and equipment, they persevered and healed the victims as best they could. They had to improvise on the run, recognizing that they were dealing with a fluid situation. They could not wait for full information on what was going on, as speed mattered. They were flexible in being able to work well with the SAF, Red Cross, Mercy Relief and other fellow colleagues. This greatly increased the collective value of our contribution.
Back in Singapore, the team investigating the outbreak of fungal keratitis worked in better conditions. Nonetheless our epidemiologists, microbiologists and scientists proved their mettle under pressure. They knew that their findings would be scrutinized internationally. Their investigations had to be robust, defensible and transparent. CSI television serials portray such work as glamorous but in real life, it is pain-staking work requiring creativity in planning, discipline in ensuring scientific rigour and wisdom in drawing the right conclusions.
COURAGE
Third, courage. Our earthquake teams were constantly in danger from the over 700 aftershocks that shook the area. And Mt Merapi threatened to erupt. These were compounded by the social chaos in the aftermath of the earthquake. Yet our teams put personal safety aside, doing their jobs professionally and with dedication.
Likewise in the ReNu incident, our healthcare professionals led by DMS Prof Satku knew that they were taking on a global MNC with deep pockets and an army of scientists and lawyers. It takes courage to be the first country to draw the link between the eye infection and the product. SNEC's reputation was at risk; MOH and ultimately Singapore's reputation was also at stake.
We could lose the confidence of our public or even be sued if we were wrong in our advisory. As the leader of the professional team, DMS Prof Satku studied the evidence, weighed the risk and promptly discharged his responsibility to protect our public. This is leadership at its finest. This is another fine moment in our medical history.
SALUTE TO YOU
To all of you who have participated in these two events, l thank you for a job well done. You have made us proud. You have made a difference to the lives of the people you touch locally as well as those overseas. To each of you, I salute you.