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TIRELESS WORK: IMH researchers (from left) Ms Helen Lee, Dr Swapna Verma, Ms Poon Lye Yin and Prof Chong Siow Ann. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
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PROFESSOR Yap Hui Kim could have had a plum job in the United States when she finished graduate training in 1985.
But the university don, who specialises in childhood kidney diseases, turned it down and returned to Singapore where her expertise was in dire need. At the time, children with kidney failure here faced almost certain death because of a shortage of specialists and a lack of facilities.
'It was very tempting to stay in the US...with all the facilities set up there rather than come home and start from scratch,' the 53-year-old recalled yesterday. 'But I went specifically to find out how to fill this void in Singapore.'
She returned to set up the country's first programme dedicated to treating children with kidney failure. Now, over 80 per cent of chidlren with the condition survive into adulthood.
Her commitment, along with that of three other doctors and two teams of researchers, has been recognised with the first National Medical Excellence Awards. The accolades honour doctors and medical researchers who have made significant contributions to society.
This year's winners include a doctor who helped blind patients see again and a team of researchers whose work helped catch and combat mental illness early.
The awards, given out last night by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, will be an annual affair.
They focused yesterday on doctors who combined caring for patients with research innovations that improved the health-care system. Their recognition follows a recent shift in health policy to encourage more research.
Speaking at the awards, Mr Khaw said: 'Hospitals need to grasp the Government's recent health policy shift to pursue clinical research that will reap real benefits in health care for Singaporeans.'
In 2006, the Government committed $1.55 billion over five years to help put innovations into practice.
With the investment comes the need for public accountability, said Mr Khaw.
'It is not the mindless pursuit of esoteric discoveries to score a world first. It is to bring real health benefits to our people, to keep healthcare standards high, yet affordable,' he said.
Asked if she felt her work was done, Prof Yap said: 'If I thought that, I may as well retire. We have to keep moving forward.
'There are too many things to do for tomorrow to make our research programmes better.'
skesava@sph.com.sg
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