Mr Lim Yong Wah, SingHealth Chairman,

Prof Tan Ser Kiat, SingHealth Group CEO

Dr Tan Chee Beng, SingHealth Polyclinics CEO,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s opening of SingHealth Polyclinics – Pasir Ris marks an important moment for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Constituency. With this new polyclinic, our residents now have ready access to quality primary healthcare through a comprehensive and affordable health care programme.

We have come a long way from the polyclinics of Singapore’s early years. At that time, the top priority was to provide basic health care to all sectors of our population, and Singapore could not yet afford all the conveniences and amenities that we take for granted today. Now, we have air-conditioned waiting rooms and a wide variety of medical services under one roof, as well as educational programmes that encourage a more holistic approach to health care.

Nevertheless, the fundamental mission of the polyclinics has not changed. Good primary health care is critical to every community as about four out of five patients in Singapore consult a family physician. Polyclinics must be aware of the particular needs of the communities they reside in and how these needs can be addressed within the broader context of Singapore’s health care system.

Pasir Ris is a relatively new estate with many young families. Many of its residents are working parents with young children. These children are often looked after by caregivers who are usually family members or domestic help. While this new polyclinic provides a complete range of services to meet the needs of residents of all age groups, I am also glad to see that it has already developed two specific initiatives to meet the needs of this demographic group: its focus on child health and its community outreach programmes.

One priority of this clinic is to provide health services for children, as well as child developmental assessment. I have been told that since it commenced operations, about one-third of the patients seen here are below twelve years of age. This polyclinic has therefore developed services to cater to this group, services that not only help to treat childhood ailments, but also guide parents to care for their children better. The polyclinic provides a well-integrated and comprehensive spectrum of care, from antenatal care and postnatal care, to immunisations and screenings for common childhood diseases. These will help to allay any worries or fears that young parents might face.

The polyclinic also has taken on the responsibility of educating our young parents and caregivers on how to properly care for their children. I am heartened to learn that the medical professionals here are not only well-trained family physicians, they have also undertaken additional roles in speaking to and educating members of the public. This demonstrates a strong commitment on their part to enhancing the health of our children. In response to the concern that accidental injuries are the third leading cause of death among children in Singapore, the clinic has organised a range of classes teaching parents how to care for their children: for instance there are classes focusing on proper bathing techniques for children, child nutrition, and child safety. There will even be a public forum tonight on how to handle emergencies involving children.

This polyclinic is also participating in an injury surveillance programme to pool information on accidents that result in children being taken to accident and emergency departments. The information will then be used to detect injury trends so that appropriate preventative steps can be put in place. This is the kind of proactive approach we want to encourage. Health care is not confined to treating illnesses or injuries. Its wider definition includes providing guidance and advice as well as implementing measures that contribute to the well-being of the community at large.

I am pleased to note that SingHealth Polyclinics - Pasir Ris is also the first night clinic in the East, with an emphasis on treating patients with chronic illnesses. Care-givers who work in the day can now have the greater convenience and flexibility ofin accompanying patients for their medical consultations during the opening hours of the clinic at night.

These are some of the many more initiatives that SingHealth Polyclinics has adopted in developing its other priority: community outreach initiatives. The location of this Polyclinic in the Community Building helps to promote future collaborations between SingHealth Polyclinics and its neighbours here, including the Community Club, the Police as well as the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP). For instance, SingHealth Polyclinics has started working with AMP to provide more educational talks and sessions to young Muslim parents, starting with today’s public forum. With such a range of useful programmes in the works, I look forward to hearing more about how these organisations will be working towards improving the health and awareness of our community.

It is now my pleasure to declare the SingHealth Polyclinics - Pasir Ris officially opened. Thank you.