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The media is cordially invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Singapore Disease Management Conference and the 1st International Conference on Healthcare Transformation with a focus on Primary Care on 9 May 2008 (Friday), at the Suntec City Convention Centre. Minister for Health, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, will be the Guest of Honor and will deliver a speech at the Opening Ceremony.

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Chronic diseases are a growing global epidemic. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic diseases account for almost 60% of the 57 million deaths annually, and Singapore is no exception to this global trend. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and mental disorders are the leading causes of disease burden here.

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The concept of Chronic Disease Management (CDM) is widely adopted in several developed countries such as United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is one of the forerunners in Singapore to embrace the CDM approach in 2000. Since then, the success of CDM is also increasingly recognised by local healthcare authorities as one of the most effective solutions to battling chronic diseases and is now adopted nationally. The extension of Medisave use by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to diabetes, stroke, hypertension, lipid disorders and more recently, asthma and COPD bear testimony to the success of CDM.

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This year, NHG’s Singapore Disease Management Conference themed Think Global, Do Local, aims to continue with its yearly success to engage global experts, to discuss, share and learn how we can recalibrate our on-going efforts to deliver better and more cost-effective healthcare to patients with chronic diseases. It will also explore to apply tried and tested strategies from the global community into the local context and vice versa. Discussion topics include the measurement of the value of Disease Management, the use of IT, and the importance of self-management in Disease Management.

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New on this year’s programme is the 1st International Conference on Healthcare Transformation, which will focus on primary healthcare. With the increasing recognition on the importance of primary care around the world, the conference provides a platform for participants to better understand the various international models of primary care, new quality strategies and innovation in primary care, as well as their increasing role in the healthcare transformation. Some of the presentation topics within this conference include a discussion on end-of-life care and the evolving role of allied health professionals in primary care.

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The conferences, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Asia, aims to bring healthcare professionals together to share and learn the latest in disease management and challenges in healthcare transformation. More than 800 doctors, nurses, case managers and health professionals from the Asia-Pacific region will attend this conference.

Key Conference Speakers

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The keynote speaker Professor Michael Kidd, Head, Discipline of General Practice, and Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney will deliver the opening plenary lecture, “Global Perspectives on Healthcare Transformation – The Relevance of Primary Care”. Professor Kidd has research and education interests in general practice, medical informatics, health policy, medical education, safety and quality in primary care, and the primary care management of HIV and Hepatitis C. Professor Kidd will also speak on the “Role of Patient Empowerment in Providing Quality Primary Healthcare”.

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Other foreign speakers include Dr Shigeru Omi, Regional Director, Western Pacific Region, World Health Organisation, who will present on the topic of “People-Centred Health Care: Health for All by All” and Dr Alex Jadad, Chief Innovator and Founder, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, who will speak on “Chronic Disease Management in a Globalised World: Joining Forces in the Age of Social Networks”.

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Local speakers will also share on various current topics on Disease Management.

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Details of the Opening Ceremony
Date : 9 May 2008, Friday
Time : 8.00am
Venue : Suntec City Convention Centre, Ballroom 2, Level 2