CLINIC IN ANSON ELECTORAL DIVISION

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Health whether the Government proposes to build a clinic in the Anson Electoral Division; where will it be situated, and when will it be ready.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is the policy of the Government to build a network of Outpatient Dispensaries so as to bring medical ser vices to the people, as far as possible. The choice of sites will be determined by the availability of land, population served and availability of staff, namely, doctors, nurses, etc.

As stated in the last Yang di-Pertuan Negara's speech on 29th November, 1963, we already have no less than 32 Outpatient Dispensaries in Singapore. We have, in fact, expanded faster than the recruitment of doctors to man this service and it is not proposed to expand further until we have been able to consolidate and improve the present services.

I regret, therefore, having to inform my colleague, the Member for Anson, that there are no immediate plans for the building of a new Outpatient Dispensary in Anson Electoral Division. There is already an Outpatient Dispensary at Kee Seng Street, off Tanjong Pagar Road. The new Maxwell Road Outpatient Dispensary situated at the junction of Erskine Road with Kadayanallur Street (next to Maxwell Road Market) is expected to be ready for use by 1st August.

These two Outpatient Dispensaries, although not situated inside the Anson Electoral Division itself, are, however, easily within reach of the people residing inside Anson Division.