Speech by Assoc Prof Benjamin Ong, Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, at the Farrer Park Hospital Annual Scientific Meeting, 3 July 2016

Prof Maurice Choo, Chairman of The Farrer Park Company,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

1.         It gives me great pleasure this afternoon to officiate the inaugural Annual Scientific Meeting at Farrer Park Hospital and Medical Centre.

2.         I understand that, since its opening, Farrer Park Hospital has provided medical treatment for more than 3000 patients, probably, by now, giving Singaporeans an additional option for medical treatment, ranging from specialist treatment like cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology to general surgery. Beyond providing medical care and treatment, Farrer Park Hospital has also placed strong emphasis on education in healthcare.

Education

3.         It is this emphasis on education in healthcare that brings us together today. In line with the theme of the Forum - “Equipping yourself for tomorrow's healthcare needs”, I note that today’s Meeting facilitates the sharing of knowledge – not only among the healthcare fraternity, but also in sharing health tips and knowledge with members of public.

4.         Tomorrow’s healthcare needs will certainly be different from today.  It actually occupies the Ministry of Health, it is its main activities. We need to be ready for the change and be equipped for the challenges that the aging population will bring. By 2030, about one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above compared to just one in eight today. Chronic disease management will need to be at the forefront of this change, with a multidisciplinary approach crucial in ensuring smooth transition.    

Value of healthcare

5.         Singapore’s changing healthcare needs will translate to pressure on our healthcare resources and spending. Our challenge will be to find innovative ways to constantly improve clinical and service quality across the board but at the same time, ensure a sustainable healthcare system.

6.          We need to realize that not all new and expensive treatments are always the best option for our patients. The Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE) was set up in August 2015 to assess whether, new healthcare technologies should be adopted, including whether the improvements in outcomes are commensurate with   higher prices. ACE’s work to establish evidence-based guidance in the use of health technologies will support doctors and patients in making better-informed choices about selecting health care options that can provide better value to patients.

7.          It is in our collective interest to work together to make sure that we are able to succeed in transforming our healthcare sector, in promoting better health for the population, in working to improve sustainability and productivity, so that we are able to collectively keep our healthcare system affordable and sustainable. In fact, we need to move towards health maintenance and not healthcare or disease care alone.

8.         To better equip the general population to make informed choices, MOH has implemented various measures to enhance the transparency of healthcare charges. Since 2003, hospital bill sizes for common conditions and procedures at both public and private hospitals have been progressively published on the MOH website. In 2014, the publication of “Total Operation Fees” for common procedures in public hospitals was introduced. Later this year, the publication will be expanded to cover “Total Operation Fees” for private hospitals. There will be further breakdown of the “Total Operation Fees” into “Surgeon Fees”, “Anaesthetist Fees” as well as “Facility Fees”. The expanded publication will provide added transparency to the private hospital bill components attributed to performing the procedure, and serve as a point of reference for both healthcare professionals and the general public.

Technology

9.          As we look at innovative ways to optimize workflows and improve productivity in healthcare, the role of technology naturally comes to the fore. Tomorrow’s healthcare needs are intertwined with the diverse new technology we see daily. The challenge we will face as a society is how to harness such technology, keep it affordable and scale it up to benefit Singaporeans. We have made good progress. On the individual level, HealthHub, an online health information and services portal, empowers Singaporeans to take greater ownership of their health. On a wider systems level, the National Electronic Health Record allows patient information to flow across various healthcare settings to enable proper diagnosis and patient management. At Farrer Park Hospital, technology has also been used to facilitate learning and sharing. This ballroom we are in, is linked by more than 200 high speed audio-video fibers to all 18 Operating Rooms of the hospital so that live operations and commentaries can be transmitted here, and simultaneously to the seminar, lecture and teaching rooms. The key question is whether we will now critically change our clinical processes to really make technology work in a sustainable fashion?

Conclusion

10.       I am heartened to see a gathering of like-minded medical practitioners here today. I encourage you to share your experiences with one another and be open to new areas of learning.

11.        Thank you.