As Singapore's healthcare needs become increasingly complex, medical professionals need to have a better scientific understanding of diseases to develop better and more efficient care.

The focus on Academic Medicine - a combination of biomedical research and healthcare education - will help to achieve that, said Minister of State for Health, Amy Khor on Friday.

Speaking at the Singapore General Hospital's 20th Annual Scientific Meeting, Dr Khor added that research would support the Government's commitment to providing improved, more cost-effective medical care for patients. That is why some $3.7 billion will be invested in biomedical sciences research between 2011 and 2015, up from the $3.2 billion allocated for 2006 to 2010, she noted.

Medical education will also impress upon the need to possess the spirit of inquiry and groom students who display interest and ability for research. In September last year, SingHealth and Duke-NUS also launched the Academic Medicine Education Institute to train clinician educators to be better teachers.