HEALTH

The separation of Singapore from Malaysia does not affect our Health Service in any way, because Singapore had autonomy in health even when it was part of Malaysia two years ago.

Work on the Thoracic Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital is nearing completion and expected to be in operation by early 1966, when modern and advanced surgical facilities for chest surgery will be available to relieve the over-worked Surgical Theatres at the Outram Road General Hospital.

The Tuberculosis Control Programme has progressed very satisfactorily. So far 378,000 persons had been examined and by the middle of 1966 Mass X-Ray Examination of the adult population (by electoral divisions) would have completed its first round of the whole island. To facilitate easy access by the people for their chest X-ray, a new Static X-Ray Unit will be set up in the City area, next year.

The response to B.C.G. vaccination to immunise against tuberculosis remained good. Up to date, more than half a million children had been given protection against Tuberculosis by this method.

A project which represents an advance in the Medical Services in this region has been undertaken in co-operation with the University of Singapore. The Medical Progress Fund will help build a $4 million Institute of Medical Specialities, in the compound of Outram Road General Hospital. This 9-storied Institute will have units for Radiotherapy, with super-voltage X-ray apparatus and radio-active isotopes for cancer treatment, a Cardiac unit for the investigation of heart conditions as well as for Open Heart Surgery, a Neurology and Neurological Unit, a Kidney Unit with an Artificial Kidney machine, as well as units for investigation of blood diseases etc. Government has guaranteed meeting half the cost (i.e, up to a maximum of $2.375 million). Public response in support of the Medical Progress Fund has been generous. The original target of $4.75 million had now exceeded the $5.5 million mark. The foundation stone of this Institute was laid on 27th November, 1965 and building operations are to commence soon.

A White Paper on Family Planning was published in September, consequent on Government being asked by the Singapore Family Planning Association to take over Family Planning activities now being conducted in Government Institutions. The 5-Year Programme, 1966/70 contained in the White Paper, aims at reducing the present crude birth rate at 32 per thousand by one-half, by making family planning service available to all currently eligible married women in Singapore.

The Dental Services continue to expand with the provision of 6 new school clinics for the coming year. In the 46 school dental clinics and the 2 large school dental centres at Pegu Road and Institute of Health, a total of over 150,000 patient-attendances was recorded in 1964.

Future development of the dental services will include the establishment of more dental clinics in primary schools and in Maternal and Child Health Centres, and the building of an extension to the existing dental clinic at Outram Road General Hospital to accommodate a new operating theatre for oral surgical cases, and a large polyclinic for dental outpatients.

The re-organisation and expansion of the Environmental Health Services, Public Cleansing, Anti-Mosquito Services and Hawkers Department are being taken in hand and initial measures for improvement of transport, equipment, enforcement of discipline and training of supervisors have commenced.

As a result of new legislation which was passed at the end of last year, it has been possible to take firm measures to control the cattle nuisance in Singapore from the beginning of this year.