LAUNCH OF THE LEE FOUNDATION CRITICAL CARE PROGRAMME FOR THE BENEFIT OF INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATED DISEASES IN SINGAPORE

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1 PRESS RELEASE 28 September 2005 Dear Editor LAUNCH OF THE LEE FOUNDATION CRITICAL CARE PROGRAMME FOR THE BENEFIT OF INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATED DISEASES IN SINGAPORE The National University Hospital (NUH) Endowment Fund will officially launch the Lee Foundation Critical Care Programme on Sunday, 2 October 05 at the Future of Medicine Charity Golf President S R Nathan will be the Guest-of-Honor of the Charity Golf to be held at Sentosa Golf Club. Please refer to Annex A for the Future of Medicine Charity Golf 2005 programme and Annex B for more information on the NUH Endowment Fund. Ageing Population Singapore s population is ageing rapidly. Over the past decade (1990 to 2000), the population of those aged 65 and above had grown annually by about 3.7%. Demographic projections show that the proportion of elderly will increase from about 7% today to 19% by the year 2030, or one in every five persons. This makes Singapore one of the fastest ageing population in Asia. 1 Increasing number of patients with complicated diseases in Singapore With ageing population, there will be an increasing number of patients suffering from complicated diseases in Singapore who require state-of-the-art medical treatment, facilities and surgeries. This includes patients who require hospitalization due to medical conditions such as heart diseases, pneumonia, kidney problems and liver problems, or even complex multiple medical conditions. Ischaemic heart disease, which affects males and females above 55 and 65 years respectively, was the second principal cause of death in Singapore in Pneumonia was the third principal cause of death whilst kidney problems was the ninth principal cause of death in The number of patients who were hospitalized for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis increased from 560 in 2003 to 628 in With ageing population, there is also an increased likelihood of patients suffering from multiple organ failure. Lee Foundation Critical Care Programme With ageing population and an increasing number of patients with complicated diseases in Singapore and the region requiring critical care medical treatment and surgery, there is a growing need for a Critical Care Programme to provide enhanced training for healthcare professionals. Page 1 of 5

2 The Lee Foundation has pledged a total of $5 million (at $1 million a year over 5 years) to establish the Lee Foundation Critical Care Programme Components of the programme and its benefits for patients The components include 1. Training of NUH Critical Care Nurses Nurses are central to the delivery of quality care of patients hospitalized in the critical care setting. It is crucial for them to gain the knowledge and skills required to care for patients in the modern technological critical care setting. With the aim of supporting nurses educational needs and enhancing patient care, NUH had implemented an in-house 9-month education programme comprising of theoretical and handson training in critical care. This programme will take the form of a graduate diploma in critical care, which will escalate to Masters level qualification in the future. 2. Training and Upgrading of Skills for NUH Medical and Surgical Professions and Paramedical With rapidly evolving technology and changing patterns of diseases, the need for continuous upgrading of knowledge and skills of the medical doctors, surgeons and paramedicals is necessary in improving the quality of care and treatment for patients. With enhanced training, the doctors, nurses and paramedical professionals will be better equipped to manage patients with complicated medical problems such as cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, transplant surgery, neurosurgery, respiratory medicine and renal medicine together as a team. Notes to the Media The media are cordially invited to the Future of Medicine Charity Golf For more information / media interview with Professor Lee Chuen Neng, Director, Lee Foundation Critical Care Programme and/or to confirm your attendance, please kindly contact Lay Koon, NUH Media Relations at DID: , Lay_Koon_Peh@nuh.com.sg. Professor Lee is also Director, The Heart Institute, National Healthcare Group; Chief, Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital. About the National Healthcare Group The National Healthcare Group (NHG) manages: Four hospitals - Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital; Page 2 of 5

3 The Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre; one National Centre National Skin Centre; The NHGP chain of nine polyclinics - Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Hougang, Jurong, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun; Three speciality institutes - The Cancer Institute, The Eye Institute and The Heart Institute; and Five Business Divisions - NHG College, NHG Diagnostics, NHG Gulf, NHG Pharmacy and NetCare Internet Services. Our vision is "Adding years of healthy life to the people of Singapore. Page 3 of 5

4 Annex A Future of Medicine Charity Golf 2005 in aid of the NUH Endowment Fund 2 October 2005 Sentosa Golf Course PROGRAMME On the Green Sentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) 12 noon Registration & Quick Lunch at Grand Salon 1:00 pm Tee-Off (Shotgun start) Presentation Dinner Sentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) 6:30 pm Pre-dinner drinks 7:00 pm Guests to be seated at Grand Salon 7:10 pm Arrival of Guest-of-Honour, President S R Nathan 7:15 pm Welcome Address by Prof Lee Eng Hin Chairman, Organising Committee 7.20 pm Launch of Critical Care Program/Video Presentation Dinner commences 9:00 pm Good Night Presentation of Prizes /Tokens of Thanks Presentation of Challenge Trophies, Hole-in-1 prize and Tokens of Appreciation to major donors by His Excellency, President S R Nathan Raffle Draw / Presentation of draw prizes by Dato Loh Ah Joo Co-Chairman, Organising Committee Page 4 of 5

5 Annex B The National University Hospital Endowment Fund The Fund helps to finance areas of medicine that need attention. Launched in 1987, the non-profit fund helps to finance 3 key areas in the provision of health care at the NUH. Medical research: The NUH Endowment Fund supports research work that can result in more effective treatment. Some of these researches may result in new drugs or cures. They may help prevent diseases, or they may help alleviate pain and suffering. They may also help lower the costs of healthcare. Some of these researches may not be commercially viable but are fundamental to the generation and spinning off of other projects, which can prove to be medical breakthroughs. Medical Education: The Fund addresses the fact that trained personnel in certain areas of medicine are a scarce but valuable resource in the provision of specialised care. Through its support of medical education, the Fund promotes the development and continued upgrading of the medical professional's skills. For example, an Oncology nurse requires specialised training to provide specialized care for cancer patients, or a paramedical may need to upgrade his knowledge to use new technology and skills to provide better patient care. Care for needy patients: Additionally, the National University Hospital Endowment Fund helps the under-privileged to help their loved ones by subsidising or sponsoring medical costs, as well as costs related to the provision of facilities and/or equipment. Needy patients receiving assistance from the Fund span across all ages. The Fund helps patients suffering from any disease, and is not confined to focusing on any one particular disease. General Funds: Donations may be made to the NUH Endowment Fund s general account. Money from the Endowment Fund s general account will finance any area deemed by the Endowment Fund s committee to be in need of support Page 5 of 5