Cost implications a factor when designing public hospitals: MOH

Besides sun shades and external shading devices, green roof vegetation next to windows on multiple floors of Jurong Community Hospital provides additional shade, helping to cool the ambient temperature inside the buildings. A spokesman for Ng Teng Fo
A ward in the new Sengkang General Hospital. An MOH spokesman said the ministry has been improving design and infrastructure provisions in newer public hospitals, and will "continue to review designs and explore new technologies, while balancing them against continued access to affordable healthcare".ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Besides sun shades and external shading devices, green roof vegetation next to windows on multiple floors of Jurong Community Hospital provides additional shade, helping to cool the ambient temperature inside the buildings. A spokesman for Ng Teng Fo
A spokesman for Ng Teng Fong General Hospital said its planners studied the sun's angles and orientation when the hospital and the adjoining Jurong Community Hospital were being built. ST FILE PHOTO
Besides sun shades and external shading devices, green roof vegetation next to windows on multiple floors of Jurong Community Hospital provides additional shade, helping to cool the ambient temperature inside the buildings. A spokesman for Ng Teng Fo
Besides sun shades and external shading devices, green roof vegetation next to windows on multiple floors of Jurong Community Hospital provides additional shade, helping to cool the ambient temperature inside the buildings. ST FILE PHOTO
Published
Aug 26, 2018, 5:00 am SGT
Political Correspondent
linettel@sph.com.sg

The Government needs to be "mindful of the cost implications" when designing amenities for public hospitals, said a Ministry of Health (MOH) spokesman in response to questions from The Sunday Times.

"The subsidised wards in our public hospitals cater to essential patient needs, and are designed for natural ventilation," the spokesman said. "Patients who prefer air-conditioned accommodation can opt for A or B1 ward types."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on August 26, 2018, with the headline 'Cost implications a factor when designing public hospitals: MOH'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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