SINGAPORE'S first graduate medical school was officially opened on Monday, at the same site that produced the country's first doctors more than a century ago.

However, the Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Medical School, next to Singapore General Hospital in Outram, will produce doctors with a difference.

Its students, who would already have bachelor's degrees - not necessarily in medicine - will be trained as researchers to find cures for ailments, as well as medical practitioners to treat patients.

Their added role is part of Singapore's aim to be a biomedical hub and to improve its health-care system.

Speaking at the launch of the school's new building at College Road on Monday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: 'Duke-NUS is an important piece in our long-term plan to develop Singapore's health-care system.'

It will produce 50 doctors annually, increasing the pool of new doctors to 350 a year.

But this will still not be enough, said Mr Lee.

'We will need even more doctors to cope with a growing and ageing population. We are continuing to study options to expand the supply of local doctors.'

Singapore is looking at setting up a third medical school, with the Nanyang Technological University exploring a tie-up with London's Imperial College.

The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School is Singapore's second medical school. Its students - who hold at least a first degree in science-based subjects - will graduate with a Doctor of Medicine degree after four years.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.