NUHS becomes new integrated health cluster
The National University Health System (NUHS) is merging with Jurong Health Services (JurongHealth) as part of a reorganisation of the public healthcare system in Singapore announced by the Ministry of Health. Six existing regional healthcare systems will be reorganised into three integrated clusters, each with its own network of polyclinics, to better meet Singaporeans’ future healthcare needs.
The NUHS currently comprises the National University Hospital, National University Cancer Institute, National University Heart Centre, National University Centre for Oral Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
With the reorganisation, NUHS will retain its name, and the new healthcare cluster will include its close partner JurongHealth, as well as a new entity, the National University Polyclinics (NUP). The NUP will have seven polyclinics by 2020, located in Bukit Batok, Clementi, Choa Chu Kang, Queenstown, Jurong, Pioneer and Bukit Panjang. Pioneer and Bukit Panjang polyclinics are upcoming developments. The new NUHS cluster will serve Singaporeans in the western region.
NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan will remain as Chairman of NUHS during this period of transition. Professor John Eu-Li Wong, NUS Senior Vice President (Health Affairs) and Isabel Chan Professor of Medical Sciences, will be Group Chief Executive of the NUHS.
Associate Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Dean of Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, will remain as Deputy Group Chief Executive of NUHS, together with Mr Chua Song Khim and Adjunct Associate Professor Joe Sim. The current CEO of JurongHealth Mr Foo Hee Jug will be appointed Deputy Group Chief Executive of NUHS. Prof Tan, Prof Wong, Assoc Prof Yeoh, Mr Foo and Mr Chua are NUS alumni.
Drawing on the combined strengths and talents across the clusters, the country’s new integrated clusters are expected to deliver more comprehensive and patient-centred health promotion, disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative care for the community they serve. It will also allow better use of resources, as well as more career options and professional opportunities for those serving within the systems.
The restructuring comes as Singapore’s healthcare needs grow in volume and complexity due to an ageing population and increased chronic disease burden.
Said Prof Wong, “This reorganisation allows long standing partners in the western part of Singapore to come together as a fully integrated team to provide seamless care from prevention to home care, and with our academic institutions, to continue to develop solutions for Singapore’s healthcare challenges, and nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“With our partners across Singapore, we continue to dedicate ourselves to our patients and the community we live in as one public healthcare system,” he added.
The streamlining of the health systems will also see the Duke-NUS Medical School serving the eastern region of Singapore under the Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) cluster.
The reorganisation of the public healthcare system is expected to be completed by early 2018.
