YISHUN MEDICAL CENTRE (Conversion into polyclinic)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for Health whether he will consider converting Yishun Medical Centre at Yishun Central into a polyclinic.

The Minister of State for Health (Dr Aline K. Wong) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Review Committee on National Health Policies in its report issued in February 1992 recommended that the Government consider some alternative approaches to the provision of primary health care, such as providing multi-purpose buildings, incorporating multiple clinics, for lease to doctors. The Ministry of Health accordingly built Yishun Medical Centre as a pilot project for the provision of primary health care.

Yishun Medical Centre was completed in September 1993 and the clinics leased to private practitioners in April 1994. The Ministry has no plans to convert Yishun Medical Centre to a polyclinic.

My Ministry will continue to provide primary health services for Yishun residents in the Sembawang Outpatient Dispensary and Mandai Maternal and Child Health Clinic.

Mr Cheo Chai Chen (Nee Soon Central): Will the Minister consider building a community hospital in the Yishun area if the Ministry does not have plans to convert the Yishun Medical Centre to a polyclinic?

Dr Aline Wong: Sir, a polyclinic and a community hospital serve very different types of clients. One is on an outpatient basis and the other is on an inpatient basis. Right now, the Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital is the first prototype community hospital we have built. We would like to see for a longer while how it works out before we consider building another one anywhere else in Singapore.

Mr Cheo Chai Chen: Sir, does the Minister agree that Yishun Town is a very big town and such a big town should have a Government polyclinic to serve the residents?

Dr Aline Wong: Yishun is a big town and the population is not yet stabilised. Currently, there are already 40 GP clinics and 15 dental clinics in Yishun New Town. So there is already adequate provision of primary health care in Yishun.