FEATURE

health system excellent. In the last Citation for PM Lee few years, we have seen many major policy changes especially in healthcare financing which have made life easier delivered by Dr Chong Yeh Woei Hsien Loong for most Singaporeans. These include allowing Medisave to be withdrawn for outpatient treatment of chronic Introduction for Trade and Industry in 1987, and diseases, refinement of Medishield and Today, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary was concurrently Second Minister for the implementation of means testing. of the Singapore Medical Association. Defence. These new measures by the Ministry of We also celebrate the conferment of the In 1990, Mr Lee was appointed Health would not have been possible SMA Honorary Membership on our Deputy Prime Minister. He was then without the support and approval of the Prime Minister. sworn in as Singapore’s third Prime Prime Minister. Over the years, we have conferred 26 Minister on 12 August 2004. As Chairman of the Research, Honorary Memberships to persons who The Prime Minister has always Innovation and Enterprise Council are distinguished in public life or who held a close watch on the health (RIEC), Mr Lee is also a key advocate have rendered meritorious service to the matters although he did not hold the of Research & Development (R&D) medical profession or to this Association. Health portfolio. in Singapore. The RIEC has allocated We are deeply honoured that Prime In 1992, he chaired the Ministerial a total of S$1.55 billion to establish Minister Lee Hsien Loong has agreed to Committee which published the White strategic programmes in 3 areas, one of accept the SMA Honorary Membership. Paper “Affordable Health Care” which which is Biomedical Sciences. Giving a citation for a person as has served as the blueprint for the The rapid development of Biopolis distinguished and well-known as the PM government’s approach to healthcare and now the second Medical School is one of the easiest and most difficult for the last 16 years. Many of the is a testament to the government’s tasks in the world. It is one of the easiest recommendations in the White Paper commitment to medical training and because PM’s life is one that is on public have been implemented and time has research under Mr Lee’s watch. record and known by all Singaporeans. shown that the recommendations have Singapore Medicine is well-poised It is one of the hardest because given been effective in providing quality to face the challenges before us as we the constraints of time, it is impossible healthcare for Singaporeans that is remain committed to the fundamentals to give a detailed citation that includes affordable and accessible of excellence in research, teaching and all of PM’s major milestones and The government’s growing emphasis service which can be evidenced by achievements. As such, I would like to on healthcare can be seen since the healthcare policies that have been first seek the Prime Minister and all of Mr Lee became Prime Minister in 2004. implemented in the last few years. your indulgence if this brief citation does From 2005 to 2007, the Government Many see health spending only not do justice to the man. Health Expenditure per Singapore as a cost, almost as an inevitable Resident rose from S$509 to $615, evil. With the slew of government Background which is an increase of about 20%. healthcare policies implemented Mr Lee Hsien Loong went to the The main bulk of this expenditure goes in the recent past, we can also see University of Cambridge, on a President’s towards providing subsidised healthcare that PM Lee’s government also sees and SAF Scholarship. He also obtained to Singaporeans and much needed healthcare spending as a investment a Masters in Public Administration from investments in the future, including for the future. the Kennedy School of Government, the building of more public facilities, The SMA is most confident that the Harvard University. He had a meteoric recruitment of more doctors, nurses medical profession has in our Prime career in the Armed Forces where he rose and allied health professionals. The Minister a statesman who is committed to the rank of Brigadier General at the SMA appreciates the fact that even to the cause and values of medicine age where many doctors would be still as the Government faces budgetary and in recognition of PM Lee’s undergoing Advanced Specialty Training constraints and many ministries ongoing efforts to support the medical as registrars. faced either budget cuts or stagnant community, the SMA is proud to confer Mr Lee entered politics and was budgets, public spending on healthcare the Honorary Membership on him on appointed Minister of State in the has increased significantly ever since the occasion of the 50th anniversary Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Mr Lee became Prime Minister. But of the SMA and may I add as a happy and the Ministry of Defence in 1984. increased spending on health is not coincidence, on the 25th anniversary of He was confirmed as full Minister the only thing that makes our or any PM’s Lee entry into politics.

sma News june 2009 7