Media Release
23 February 2019
SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) Signed Two MOUs with the University of Malaya (UM) and the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) respectively, to Foster Collaborations for the Improvement of Patient Care and to Inspire the Younger Generation
1. SingHealth Polyclinics has signed two non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Malaya (UM) and the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) respectively on Saturday, 23 January 2019 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The three main signatories were Dr. Adrian Ee, CEO, SHP and Chair, SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme (FM ACP), Professor Dato' Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, UM and Professor Datin Paduka Dato’ Dr. Aini Ideris, Vice Chancellor, UPM.
2. The MOU will allow sharing of expertise and resources among the institutions, promoting academic and intellectual exchanges between the Family Medicine (FM) professionals to build a stronger academic practice in research, innovations, education and quality improvement in primary care. The MOU laid the foundation for more inter-disciplinary collaborations within the Family Medicine fraternity, extending to other primary care professionals such as nursing and allied health.
3. Dr. Tan Ngiap Chuan, Director of Research, SHP and Vice-chair of Research, FM ACP was one of the witnesses for the MOU agreements. He said, “Research crosses boundaries. We need to expand the scope of research beyond our institutions to partner research experts and talents around the world to further develop our research and development in primary care to further enhance the health of patients and their families in the community. This MOU is a portal to open up research discussions and collaborations in a more secured environment, for intellectual property (IP) development.”
4. At the initial period of the MOU endorsement, SHP and UM will focus on enhancing patient-centered care by building a framework of shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare providers in managing their health and medical conditions. This includes development and testing of patient-decision support aids to facilitate decision making in the treatment of asthma, gout and screening for colorectal cancer and urinary tract symptoms. SHP and UPM will expand the current research collaborations on the evaluation of sarcopenia (a progressive loss of muscle strength and function due to aging) and frailty in the elderly, and self-care management amongst patients with hypertension. In addition, both institutions will soon initiate new research collaboration to address diabetes-related distress in patients in the community. More than ten primary care medical technology solutions, developed by students and healthcare professionals were showcased at the inaugural Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme Research and Innovation (FAMARI) Day event.
5. SHP envisions being a leader in Family Medicine and endeavours to advance the frontier of Family Medicine through research and innovation. The inaugural Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme Research and Innovation (FAMARI) Day event was organised to provide a platform for health professionals in the primary care and collaborated local academic institutions to network, share and exchange ideas and outcomes on research and innovations. Guest-of-Honour Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Executive Director, Ministry of Health (MOH) Office for Healthcare Transformation, and Chief Health Scientist, MOH was present to grace the event and deliver a keynote lecture.
6. More than ten innovative primary care medical technology solutions were showcased during the event. The technologies were developed and initiated by family physicians from FM ACP and students from Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang Polytechnic and ITE College West.
7. The exhibits showcased a wide range of innovations, ranging from devices to facilitate smoking cessation, tool to enhance hand hygiene practices, DIY clinical measurements, “calculators” to aid healthcare professionals in diagnosing medical conditions, computing dose and cost of medications, mobile apps to promote medication adherence for the elderly, wearable technology for glucose monitoring, garments for patients with eczema, and many more.
8. Dr Adrian Ee, CEO, SHP and Chair, FM ACP said, “For ongoing transformation and improvement in healthcare, we need to foster and cultivate a culture of research and innovation not just among healthcare professionals, but also among our next generation.”
-End-
For media queries, please contact:
SingHealth Polyclinics
Ms Jessica Ng
Email: jessica.ng.c.b@singhealth.com.sg
DID : 6377 7023
About SingHealth Polyclinics
SingHealth Polyclinics comprises a network of polyclinics that provide primary healthcare services
and play an integral role in empowering patients and their families to take charge of their health
and wellness. As a leader in Family Medicine, SHP strives to provide seamless, person-centred
care and promote preventive healthcare.
SingHealth Polyclinics is a member of Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) – an Academic
Medical Centre offering over 40 clinical specialties through a network of acute hospitals, national
specialty centres, community hospitals and polyclinics.
About SingHealth-Duke NUS Family Medicine Academic Clinical Programme (FM ACP)
Launched on 1 January 2017, FM ACP is an integral part of the SingHealth-Duke NUS Academic
Medicine framework. FM ACP brings together family medicine practitioners from SingHealth
Polyclinics, Changi General Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore General
Hospital, Sengkang Health and SingHealth Community Hospitals to advance Family Medicine as
an academic discipline and to establish itself as a thought leader in primary care.
The FM ACP’s main priorities include:
• Coordinating care practices that spans the continuum of primary care, acute hospitalisation, transitional and discharge care;
• Developing new models of integrated care to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system;
• Promoting multidisciplinary and inter-professional care and learning as well as support undergraduate and postgraduate medical education through quality training programmes and faculty development;
• Improving healthcare delivery and impact through innovation and research in areas such as health services, preventive care and novel technology.
About University of Malaya (UM)
The University of Malaya is committed to conduct teaching and learning, carry out research and
provide quality services on a global level, generate and enhance knowledge through continuous
improvement efforts for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially University of Malaya’s students.
About Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
UPM is a leading research university in Malaysia, located in Serdang, next to Malaysia’s
administrative capital city; Putrajaya. As a world renowned centre of learning and research, UPM
has attracted students and staff from all around the world making it a well-respected global entity.
