Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, at the Singapore Pharmacy Council Pharmacist’s Pledge Affirmation Ceremony, 6 May 2016

Mr Wu Tuck Seng, President, Singapore Pharmacy Council,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Newly Registered Pharmacists and Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.

1.      It gives me great pleasure to join you this evening at the Singapore Pharmacy Council’s Pledge Affirmation Ceremony 2016. Let me first extend my warmest congratulations to all the newly registered pharmacists.

2.      Today, you will be reciting the Pharmacist’s Pledge in the presence of your colleagues and family members, who are here to witness this special event in your life and to celebrate your transition into your professional pharmacy career which I am sure will be an exciting and fulfilling one.

3.      The Pharmacist’s Pledge affirms your commitment to uphold the values essential to the pharmacy profession. We hope that the solemn promises you make today will guide you in your professional practice, and remind you constantly of your responsibilities towards the patients and to the development of your profession.

Training to remain relevant & SPC Excellent Preceptor Award 2015

4.      With the expanding roles of pharmacists over the years, we have continually updated the training of the pharmacists to keep it current. An enhanced pharmacy curriculum was introduced at the undergraduate level by the National University of Singapore (NUS) in August 2014. The aim was to enrich learning through experiential education and equip pharmacy graduates with greater awareness of health products regulation and basic research training.

5.      The Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC) has also been reviewing the pre-registration training model and will be revising it to comprise two compulsory patient care rotations and two elective rotations. Two rotations under the revised model will be incorporated in the final year of the undergraduate education from 2017. I am glad to hear that NUS and SPC are working together to facilitate the transition from learning to practice.

6.      Training curricula and models are only one part of the equation. To deliver quality training and nurture the future workforce, we need excellent pharmacy preceptors to mentor and develop the skills of our pharmacy graduates, and serve as good role models.  I am pleased to note that the Singapore Pharmacy Council will be recognising two deserving preceptors with the SPC Excellent Preceptor Award 2015 tonight.

Transformation for Pharmacy

7.      As we face a rapidly ageing population, Singaporeans’ healthcare needs will evolve, thereby affecting the way we deliver care as a healthcare system. Seniors have a higher risk of having multiple chronic conditions, taking more medications and requiring more healthcare services. We need to transform the way we deliver care to be more patient-centric so that Singaporeans can get the appropriate care they need. At the same time, we also need to invest in preventive health efforts to defer the onset of diseases and disabilities so that Singaporeans are able to lead active lives and age confidently. As healthcare professionals, the support and involvement of pharmacists is crucial to the success of these efforts.

8.      I am pleased to share that we have developed a strategy to transform pharmaceutical care in the next 10 years with a focus on better health for the population, advancing preventive care within communities, promoting safe and effective medication use, and for pharmacists to play an active role in care integration. We have adopted the following key thrusts:

Pharmaceutical Care Practice Excellence

9.      Firstly, our pharmaceutical care model needs to be sustainable. Pharmacists will need to collaborate with other healthcare professionals to be proactively involved not only in acute and chronic care, but also in preventive care. There should also be greater partnership between pharmacists across care settings for a more integrated and patient-centric approach. For example, pharmacists in healthcare institutions and in the community can work together to identify and reach out to help patients who may have difficulty managing their multiple medications, particularly those who are frequently re-admitted to hospital.

Re-design Supply Chain Processes

10.    Secondly, we need to continue to find new ways to re-design and streamline work processes. Beyond the traditional face-to-face collection of medications, home delivery of medications is already available for patients eligible for this service in our public hospitals. Consultations may also be done through telemedicine. More of such options will be explored for patients to access medications and pharmacy services, particularly when mobility is an issue.

Nurture Pharmacy Workforce

11.    Thirdly, we need to nurture and develop the pharmacy workforce, in tandem with care and service transformation. To play an active role in care integration and team-based care, we need pharmacists to serve as the trusted medication expert and educator not just for patients and the public but also for other healthcare professionals.

12.    In cases where the management of medications is complex, pharmacists with specialised expertise are needed to ensure safe and appropriate medication use. For pharmacists who intend to pursue such specialisations, we have developed structures to support broad and specialty-based National Pharmacy Residency programmes. In January 2016, the inaugural batch of pharmacy residents commenced their training in the accredited national programmes.

Information and Technology Enablement

13.    Lastly, in order to re-design work processes and remodel pharmaceutical care successfully, pharmacists need to be supported by information and technology enablers. Our institutions have been implementing automation and robotics to pick medications accurately and quickly. This allows Pharmacy staff to have more time to take on greater patient-centred roles, provide advice on medications and optimise health outcomes.

Conclusion

14.    The road ahead for the pharmacy profession will be an exciting and fulfilling one. I want to thank you for joining us on this healthcare journey and let us work hard together to improve the healthcare system for the benefit of all Singaporeans.

15.    Let me once again congratulate all our newly registered pharmacists. We look forward to your contribution to the profession and trust that you will uphold the confidence that has been placed in you. I wish all of you successful and rewarding careers ahead!

16.    Thank you very much.