Speech by Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Transport, at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School Of Medicine Public Health Screening 2013 event

Associate Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Dean, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Ladies & Gentlemen,

Introduction

Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you today at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Public Health Screening 2013. It is very encouraging to see many participants here today.

Importance of Health Screening

2          Health screening is important even if we feel perfectly healthy. It helps us find out if we have a particular disease or condition, even if do not have any symptoms. More importantly, health screening followed by treatment and good control can lower our risk of serious complications and improve our health outcomes. It is paramount therefore for us to take ownership of our own health and get ourselves screened.

Healthy Living Master Plan

3          Earlier this year, Health Minister, Mr Gan Kim Yong announced the development of a new Healthy Living Master Plan which I am spearheading. It is the vision of the Master Plan to ensure that all Singaporeans have access to a healthy lifestyle so that healthy living becomes natural and effortless for all. To make this possible, we will develop initiatives that will revolve around the 3Ps – Place, People and Price. We have engaged the public on how we can improve on these areas, and will share with you soon, the preliminary ideas and feedback on how the Master Plan can be realised in the community.

Health Begins with You

4          The PHS 2013 theme of “Keeping Fit, Living Healthily”, with an emphasis on “Health Begins with You”, is very much in line with the Healthy Living Master Plan and I would like to commend the students of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine for their efforts this weekend in encouraging all to remain healthy and helping to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in our community.

Key Policy Shifts

5          At a national level, the Government is also doing our part. Recently, MOH announced enhancements to the Community Health Assist Scheme (or CHAS), to facilitate easier access to screening programmes, and follow-up.

Together, Better Healthcare for All

6          However, even as the Government helps alleviate healthcare costs, we need to continue to do our bit to stay healthy and save for the future. Our health is a collaborative responsibility and I would like to commend all of you here today for being responsible for your health.

Conclusion

7          In closing, I would like to applaud the students once again for taking time out of their curriculum to reach out to our community. Special thanks too to the sponsors and partners who have come alongside the students in this outreach. I hope other institutions will be inspired by the work you are doing here today and come forward to join us in this journey towards a better healthcare for all.

Thank you.