Ren Ci Charity Golf Tournament

02 Jan 2000

By Mr Lim Hng Kiang

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I am very happy to be here today at Ren Ci's Charity Golf Tournament. I congratulate Ren Ci for organising this event as it harnesses community support and resources for its community health projects. This event brings together many helping hands to share in the caring for the elderly sick.

Ren Ci has been active in the provision of care for the elderly sick since 1994 when it took over from the Ministry of Health, the running of the 174 bedded chronic sick hospital at Hougang which serve the chronic sick in need of medical and nursing care.

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME

Ren Ci has also taken up government's call to expand its health care services for the elderly by setting up a community hospital. Recently, my Ministry released the plan to have community hospitals located next to acute hospitals. Community hospitals provide sub-acute medical care and rehabilitation for patients who have been discharged from acute hospital care. Being located near an acute hospital would enable the community hospital to tap on the expertise and resources of an acute hospital. It would also facilitate the transfer of patients from the acute hospital to the community hospital. Ren Ci will be taking over some of the old buildings of the former Tan Tock Seng Hospital for conversion into a 200 bedded community hospital and a 300 bedded nursing home.

I commend Ren Ci for taking on these two projects, which altogether will supply 500 more beds to serve the elderly sick. The conversion and renovation works costing $2.6m for the Nursing Home is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of April 2000. The renovation for the Community Hospital situated next to the new TTSH will begin soon and should be ready by December 2000. My Ministry will be funding 90% of the building cost.

HOME MEDICAL AND NURSING SERVICES

I am happy to note that Ren Ci has expanded its range of services to provide home medical and home nursing services. It is looking after 100 elderly living in the Marsiling area now. This is a very much needed service as it enables the elderly sick to be cared for in their own homes with their families instead of an institution for as long as possible. My Ministry would like to encourage more VWOs to emulate the good example set by Ren Ci. We will provide the necessary support to facilitate their entry into home medical and home nursing services, and are currently looking into extending subsidy to VWOs who provide such services.

VWO'S CONTRIBUTION TO CARING FOR THE ELDERLY SICK

Providing medical and nursing care for the elderly sick is a challenge as the number of elderly, who currently number 220,000 will increase to 312,000 by 2010, and to 800,000 by 2030. The demand for health care services for the elderly will increase significantly over time. VWOs like Ren Ci will play an important role in meeting the healthcare needs of the elderly with warmth and compassion.

Thank you.