3 April 2007
WHO Director - General Dr Margaret Chan Visits Jurong Polyclinic

On 3 April 2007, Jurong Polyclinic was honored to host Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), who is in town for a two-day visit at the invitation of Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Foreign Minister George Yeo. Jurong Polyclinic is the only healthcare institution that she visited as part of her itinerary.

This is Dr Chan's first visit to Singapore following her appointment as Director-General. Along with Dr Chan were Dr Ian Smith, Advisor to Director-General; Dr Han Tieru, WHO Representative (Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore); and Mr Iain Simpson, WHO HQ’s Director of Media and Communications.  

Dr Chan’s visit to Jurong Polyclinic started with a tour of its facilities.  Among other things, she was briefed on the self-registration kiosk, teleradiology, Electronic Medical Records, and the Family Physician Clinics.

Speaking to the media, Dr Chan said that she was impressed with Singapore's commitment to healthcare in appropriate areas and cited the local primary healthcare model as "one of the best" she had seen. She also praised the polyclinics' holistic approach, and their efforts in health promotion, disease prevention as well as use of modern technology in providing patient care.

The visit concluded with a discussion among representatives from WHO, the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) and the Singapore Ministry of Health. Dr Jason Cheah, CEO of NHGP, presented on the overall primary healthcare landscape in Singapore, the role of polyclinics in a flu pandemic as well as chronic disease management.