The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will have a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to spearhead its future growth as the national public health and safety regulatory agency. Dr. Clarence Tan, the CEO of HSA, has decided to step down and return to full-time professional practice as a Forensic Pathologist in HSA’s Centre for Forensic Medicine.

Dr. Clarence Tan has been instrumental in the establishment of HSA as he paved the way and led his team to attain organisational excellence. By laying the critical foundations, Dr. Tan also played a key role in developing HSA into a regional leader in a broad range of professional areas, including the regulation of medical services and forensic medicine. Through his constant efforts to forge strategic partnerships with prestigious international organisations, Dr. Tan helped raise the profile of the agency in the regional and global arenas, thereby fortifying Singapore’s position as a world-class medical hub.

With effect from 1 August 2003, Dr. Tan Chor Hiang will succeed Dr. Clarence Tan as the new CEO of HSA. She is presently the Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health Regulation) in the Ministry of Health (MOH).

A registered specialist in the field of public health, Dr. Tan Chor Hiang has held several key positions in the public healthcare sector. As Medical Director of Changi Hospital from April 1993 to January 1997, Dr. Tan led in the development and management of Changi Hospital’s healthcare services and was responsible for its overall performance. Dr. Tan was Director (Clinical Standards) in MOH from October 1997 to October 1998. She was subsequently appointed as Director (Human Resource) in MOH HQ in November 1998 and was concurrently appointed as Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health Regulation) from June 2000 to December 2000.

One of Dr. Tan’s key achievements as Director (Human Resource) was overseeing the successful implementation of the public healthcare sector restructuring, a process involving the transfer of about 3,000 staff to the restructured hospitals. She has also contributed significantly in her current appointment as Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health Regulation), where she is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive clinical quality assurance system and the review of laws and regulatory practices.