When patients visit the new 12-storey National Heart Centre Singapore next year, they need only one queue number for all services there.

They will also need to pay just once. Currently, patients have to register and make payment several times when they for example need to see the doctor, do blood tests and get their medicine at the pharmacy. These are among the features at the new centre to make it more convenient for patients using the facilities.

Minister of Health Gan Kim Yong, who was at a topping out ceremony on Thursday morning, also noted that the number of heart patients in Singapore has been on the rise.

"The expansion in capacity is considerable...The new building will open with 38 specialist outpatient clinic rooms, more than double the current 18," he said, adding that 66 cardiologists will be added to the national pool in the next few years.