Speech by Dr William Chong, Managing Director, Pacific Healthcare Holdings, at the ground breaking ceremony of Pacific Healthcare Nursing Home on Wednesday, 11 December 2002

Opening Remarks - History and Development

Thank you for taking the time to join my team and I for the groundbreaking ceremony of Pacific Healthcare Nursing Home. When my colleagues and I set up Pacific Healthcare Holdings 2 years ago, we sought to build an Institution of Clinical Excellence - one based on Care, Compassion and Community Service. Today marks an important chapter of our vision in creating a truly Integrated Healthcare Service Network.

Technology Today and the Human Touch

In tandem with modern day living, medicine today is highly reliant on the use of technology. Whether it is the most complex of image-guided surgery or the simplest of diagnostic services, we are fortunate in Singapore to have ready access to the latest equipment and techniques that medical research has developed.

However at the end of the day, it is that extra touch, that extra moment spent counseling the sick and caring for the infirm that differentiates man from machine. At Pacific Healthcare, we remain committed to placing the patient as the centre of our focus - recognizing them as individuals and not merely as disease entities.

In line with this, Pacific Healthcare's Network comprises teams of different healthcare professionals who work in close collaboration with each other, and adopt a multi-disciplinary, patient-centric approach to Healthcare.

Health Economics

The economic realities however is that there is a cost to providing quality care. Pacific Healthcare is well aware of this need to strike a careful balance between service delivery and cost containment to ensure that our healthcare service remains largely accessible to all. To this end we have set aside 50% of our 300-bed Nursing Home for C and B2 wards, as part of our commitment to being a truly responsible corporate citizen. We applaud the Ministry of Health for their policy of extending subsidy to such patients in need.

I am very pleased that we have here with us today, Sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries and other Charitable Organisations. At a Scientific meeting honouring Sir Isaac Newton, he said "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulder of Giants". Indeed, these Volunteers are the true Giants of Society on whose shoulders we stand upon and from whom we draw our inspiration.

Finally I like to reiterate that Pacific Healthcare remains committed to serving the elderly and the community at large as part of our Comprehensive Healthcare Service. Thank you once again for sharing this moment with us.