Forum: Move closer to a more integrated and patient-centric healthcare system
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My brother, who is visually handicapped, receives specialist care from multiple healthcare institutions – namely, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). Before each consultation, he is often required to undergo routine blood tests about a week in advance.
However, because the consultations are at different hospitals, he must make separate trips to each facility for what are essentially the same tests.
This process is not only inefficient but also physically taxing – not just for my brother, but for other patients who may be elderly or have mobility issues.
It also places a significant burden on caregivers, many of whom are already juggling multiple responsibilities.
I urge the Ministry of Health to review this process and consider allowing such routine pre-consultation tests to be done at the public hospital nearest to the patient, regardless of where the consultation will take place. The results can be securely shared across institutions.
Implementing this change would reduce unnecessary travel, ease caregiver stress, and move us closer to a more integrated and patient-centric healthcare system.
Gabriel Chia
