Ministerial Meeting on Universal Health Coverage - Welcome Message

Foreword

A warm welcome to Singapore.

As we gather here, many of us share a common vision striving to develop a healthcare system that is accessible, effective and sustainable in the long run.

Our healthcare system must continue to evolve with the changing needs of our population. While we have achieved good outcomes for our people, with Singaporeans in general enjoying longer and healthier lives, we must continue to find innovative ways to maintain the delicate balance among affordability, accessibility, quality and sustainability.

2015 is a milestone year for Singapore. We celebrate 50 years as a sovereign nation. We are introducing several landmark changes to our healthcare system, such as providing all Singaporeans with lifetime health insurance coverage. We are also transforming our health system to so that our patients can receive appropriate care.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is about forging a social compact, which recognises the need for collective responsibility for our lifetime healthcare needs, so that no one needs to face life’s uncertainties alone, even as we continue to emphasise the role of individual and family responsibility. UHC is a continuing journey extending to many generations ahead, as we continually adapt our healthcare system to meet the evolving needs of our citizens.

Therefore, I believe our meeting here is timely. We stand at the cusp of a critical junction in public health as we move ahead to the post-2015 development agenda. Our collective insights can provide valuable input to our future work as we move to make our vision of UHC a reality. I hope we can work together to bring the messages of this meeting to decision-makers, not just within our countries but also to the international fora and outside the health community.

I wish all a fruitful meeting. 

MR GAN KIM YONG
Minister for Health
Republic of Singapore