Speeches
Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health, at the National Skin Centre Groundbreaking Ceremony, 18 April 2018
18 April 2018
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Mdm Kay Kuok, Chairman, National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Professor Philip Choo, Group CEO, NHG
Associate Professor Tan Suat Hoon, Director, National Skin Centre
Healthcare Partners
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
1. A very good morning. It is my pleasure to join you here today at the National Skin Centre (NSC) groundbreaking ceremony.
2. Last year, we marked two major milestones for HealthCity Novena — first, the topping-out of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and the adjoining Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation, and second, the groundbreaking of the Integrated Care Hub. Today, we celebrate NSC’s groundbreaking for its new building as it marks its 30th Anniversary. It is indeed very timely that you are marking two key milestones.
Growing demand for dermatology services
3. Dermatological diseases are one of the most common types of illnesses which affect many of us. At the global level, skin diseases are the third-leading cause of non-fatal disease burden. Singapore also sees a high burden of skin diseases due to the high prevalence of common skin conditions[1]. For instance, 20% of Singaporean children[2]and 11% of adults[3] suffer from eczema.
4. The demand for dermatology services will continue to increase in the coming years, especially with an ageing population. Seniors are more likely to need specialist treatment for skin conditions as they are more susceptible to chronic skin diseases and skin conditions, such as eczema and ulcerations. Skin conditions can greatly affect the quality of life for sufferers. But with appropriate treatment and care, many of these conditions can be managed and patients’ quality of life can be improved.
Role of NSC in provision of Clinical services, Education and Research
5. This is where the NSC comes in. As the national specialist centre in dermatology, NSC plays a leading role in providing dermatological services to Singaporeans, in training the next generation of healthcare professionals in dermatology and in conducting research on the treatment and management of skin conditions.
6. As the lead public provider of dermatology services in Singapore, NSC sees slightly over 80% of overall outpatient dermatology attendances in our public healthcare institutions. As the national specialist centre for dermatology, it plays a critical role in the treatment of complex dermatological cases such as skin cancers and severe extensive eczema.
7. Over the years, NSC has made great strides in developing clinical services including micrographic surgery for skin cancer, cellular grafting for the treatment of vitiligo, and, in more recent years, skin imaging for the management of skin cancers. Advances in such areas have enabled upstream diagnosis of conditions and provided patients with a wider variety of treatment options, allowing them to manage their conditions better.
8. One such patient is 62-year old Mr John Koh, who was diagnosed with psoriasis some 40 years ago. He recalls receiving treatment at the Middle Road Hospital, and subsequently at the NSC. As a patient who needs long-term management of his chronic condition, Mr Koh is glad that “costs are manageable and there is no need to second guess the quality of our doctors and medications prescribed.” Mr Koh has also since moved from being a patient to advocate. He is now a part of the Psoriasis Association of Singapore.
9. Apart from growing clinical capabilities, one of NSC’s objectives is to further dermatological education and research. NSC is the sole dermatology training institution for undergraduate, specialist and postgraduate healthcare professionals in Singapore, including our doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. Between 2009 and 2017, NSC has trained and mentored some 60 dermatologists. One example is through the Dermatology Senior Residency Programme, a cross-cluster training programme which rotates programme attendees through several core sub-specialities in dermatology. Such broad-based training enables residents to be thoroughly equipped with the clinical knowledge and skills to manage a wide variety of dermatological cases.
10. Third, in research. I am happy to note that NSC has continued to break new ground in the area of skin research. In recent years, NSC has carried out clinical trials for the use of biologics for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. It has also pioneered the use of photodynamic therapy in Singapore, offering a form of non-surgical treatment to certain types of skin cancer. NSC has also partnered with A*STAR and NTU-Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine to set up the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS). The SRIS harnesses the expertise of scientists, engineers and clinicians to conduct inter-disciplinary skin research.
11. A good example is SRIS’s collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany to develop an improved real-time 3D imaging technology, which allows clinicians to view skin cancer tumours of up to 30mm below the skin surface in greater depth and detail. Current technology only allows the identification and viewing of skin tumours of up to 3mm below the skin surface. The use of such technology has yielded good outcomes, such as the early detection and treatment of skin cancers.
Right-siting patients to the community
12. Beyond conducting innovative research, NSC has continued to find new ways to encourage patient flow out of Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) settings into the community. Since 2016, NSC has implemented Tele-DERM, a joint e-consultation service by the NSC and National Healthcare Group polyclinics, where patients with skin conditions requiring more specialised care have the option of being treated closer to their homes. This helps free up capacity at NSC for more appropriate care of patients with severe and complex conditions.
Enhancing capacity for future needs
13. This upcoming new building is most timely in enabling NSC to meet the increasing demand for dermatological services, and to continue with its many other activities. Over the years, the number of outpatient clinic attendances at NSC has grown more than 20% from about 280,000 in 2007 to 340,000 in 2016. When the new NSC building opens from 2022, it will be a one-stop specialist centre, housing state-of-the-art facilities to enhance clinical functions and research. It will also see an increase in its capacity from 46 to 69 consultation rooms as well as additional treatment and procedure rooms to cater to future service demands. Lastly, it will have expanded training facilities like teaching laboratories and a medical library, which will put NSC in better stead to nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.
14. As for the existing NSC building, it still has many years of useful life ahead, and will be re-purposed to serve as the administrative headquarters of the National Healthcare Group. This will enable NHG HQ staff to be closer to some of its key institutions, enable the cross-sharing of facilities, and – most importantly to staff – facilitate greater cross-flow of ideas and information across NHG.
Conclusion
15. In closing, I would like to congratulate and commend the leadership and staff of NSC for your efforts in building up NSC over the past 30 years, culminating in today’s groundbreaking ceremony for your new building. May I wish you all the best for the next 30 years, that you continue in your dedicated care for Singaporeans, to pioneer new areas of research and new ways to improve treatment of skin diseases.
16. Thank you.
[1] Global Burden of Disease 2016 study (GBD 2016)
[2] Tay YK, et al. The prevalence and descriptive epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in Singapore school children. Br J Dermatol 2002; 146:101–6.
[3] Cheok et al. Prevalence and descriptive epidemiology of atopic dermatitis and its impact on quality of life in Singapore. British Journal of Dermatology 2018; 178: 276–277