Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Musculoskeletal Tumour Society

Associate Professor Saminathan Suresh Nathan, President, Asia Pacific Musculoskeletal Tumour Society
Dr David Chua, President, Singapore Orthopaedic Association
Dr Kanwaljit Soin, Past President, Singapore Orthopaedic Association
Advisory Board Members of the Asia Pacific Musculoskeletal Tumour Society
Guests and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1. Good morning.  It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 11^th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Musculoskeletal Tumour Society in Singapore.

Keeping abreast with advances in treatment

2. Healthcare professionals are constantly faced with emerging challenges and the need to keep pace with rapid improvements in surgical techniques and medical treatments. Your meeting theme, “The ones we left behind - An appraisal of the problems we haven't solved” serves as a timely reminder that we cannot be satisfied with the state of our knowledge.

3. Though the incidence of musculoskeletal tumours is low compared to other tumours^[1], it can cause significant morbidity and mortality, requiring the expertise of a multidisciplinary team to manage these patients.

4. I note that your Scientific Committee includes physicians from other specialties, professions and disciplines including a family physician subspecialising in Palliative Medicine, a nurse, oncologists, radiologists, a pathologist, and international as well as local colleagues from various institutions. You have indeed recognised the importance of the multidisciplinary approach and team-based care, centred about the patient.

5. The musculoskeletal oncology caseload in Singapore has almost doubled in the last decade^[2]. Training of generalist capabilities is also important for the holistic management of our patients, particularly for the older patients who are likely to present with existing co-morbidities. We must develop the capacity to manage the growing number of elderly and prevent care fragmentation for better care outcomes.

Empowering Primary Care Physicians

6. Early detection and intervention of musculoskeletal tumours can result in improved outcomes. Our primary care physicians are at the frontline to identify patients and refer them early. We have been shifting our focus towards strengthening the primary care sector and encouraging families to have a regular family doctor. It is important for our specialists to recognise the importance of primary care. I hope you will support and engage your primary care colleagues, sharing your knowledge and expertise with them or collaborating with them for the shared management of patients.

7. We can be humbled by the fact that not all medical problems can be solved but we can still give every patient the comfort of a caring team of healthcare professionals. This international conference provides a platform to showcase the latest development and advances in the field of musculoskeletal tumours. I believe you will make the most of this conference in learning from one another and continuing to serve our patients compassionately. Thank you and I wish you a very productive and enjoyable weekend.

^[1] 624 reported cases from 2008-2012 compared to 8,805 cases of colorectal cancer, 6,532 cases of lung cancer

^[2] from 1.2 per 100,000 in 1998-2002 to 2.05 per 100,000 in 2008-2012