Speech by Dr Amy Khor at the 10th International Society of Ultrasound in O&G Outreach Course & 5th Scientific Congress of the College of O&G, 4 May 2014

Professor George Yeo, Chairman, Organising Committee
Professor Tan Hak Koon, President, College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Ladies & gentlemen,

Good Morning. Let me specially welcome our friends from overseas. I do hope you will take some time to enjoy the sights and tastes of Singapore while you’re here. I am pleased to join all of you today to support the education of our healthcare professionals, through updates on the latest developments in your field in obstetrics and gynaecology.

2          Singapore ranks among countries with the lowest neonatal and infant mortality rates in the world. This could not have been achieved without the good work of our professionals who have applied advancements in obstetric care together with the appropriate use of technology to significantly improve maternal-foetal medicine.

Challenges to O&G Practice Today

3          Yet, there are many new challenges facing our obstetricians and gynaecologists today. Our declining national fertility rate, which is below replacement levels, linked with the tendency to start families later, is a constant worry. Patient expectations and the elevated risks associated with pregnancies occurring later mean that our obstetricians must organise themselves to ensure that the expectant mothers they are caring for are given optimum care. More than ever, clinicians need to constantly update themselves and to work in teams or close partnerships to provide the best continuing care for their patients.

4          One example of how advances in medicine have impacted clinical practice is in the screening for Down’s syndrome. In the past, we had to rely on invasive amniocentesis to do this, which carried a risk to the pregnancy. Thankfully, there are now non-invasive modalities, such as ultrasound and blood markers, to identify a foetus with Down’s syndrome. I understand that there are even newer tests, such as “NIPT” or Non-invasive Prenatal Testing, which may be almost as accurate as amniocentesis in detecting chromosomal disorders. 

5          However, technology must be used appropriately, and tests must be interpreted correctly. This is your role as an obstetrician and gynaecologist – to provide timely and correct advice to patients. I commend the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, for their tireless outreach to many doctors, through such continuing professional development efforts.

Our Clinician Educators

6          O&G ranks as one of our largest specialties in Singapore, with more than 300 specialists. O&G training is thus very well established. Today, with the O&G Residency, our young doctors undergo a better structured training programme. Programme Directors, Programme Co-ordinators and Core Clinical Faculty, ensure our residents become well-trained specialists. There is also the aspect of research, for which we must build up a core of clinician scientists and clinician investigators. In this regard, MOH actively supports research through the various Clinician Scientist Awards, research grants, fellowships and training funded by MOH’s National Medical Research Council. I note that Professor George Yeo, from the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the organising chairman of ISUOG outreach Singapore, is also the Chief of Research for the SingHealth OBGYN residency program. Prof Yeo, in fact, received the National Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award in 2012 for outstanding contributions to training and mentoring. I am encouraged to see this spirit of education and research as he continues to improve the research programme for residents as part of the training of the next generation of obstetricians and gynaecologists.

7          The topics discussed in this conference are useful and important for our healthcare professionals, be they doctors, nurses or ultrasonographers, working together as a team to provide service and care for patients. Our common goal is to improve healthcare in Singapore. I hope that the conference today can serve as a useful platform for the sharing of best practices, as we advance together in our goal to provide better care for patients.

8          I wish everyone a fruitful and enriching experience at this conference. Thank you.