Jane Png Hong Hock

Title : Transformation of healthcare system

Abstract:

Singapore, a city state with 5.7 million people, is one of the first few countries that was affected by COVID-19 , adopted a national strategy for the pandemic which stress the importance of preparedness through a whole country approach. When the virus first arrived in January 2020, the healthcare sector had to shoulder the lone, massive responsibility of treating and caring for the infected.  In the beginning, the pandemic was well contained until early April 2020 when the number of cases risen. This is because many Singaporeans returning from hotspots overseas countries contract the virus, and more significantly, there was a rapid transmission among the migrant workers within their dormitories.

During this period, Singapore ‘s healthcare system has been put to test since the outbreak. In this paper, we shall examine how the COVID-19 has caused the uphill challenges for Singapore’s healthcare system and the healthcare industry. As a result, transformation of healthcare in Singapore took place.

COVID-19 forced us to transform many care models into a digital or virtual format which is one of the major significant change that took place. During the pre-pandemic days, the medical world has never been completely comfortable with online transactions or dialogues, although now, out of sheer necessity, we are increasingly becoming more accustomed to it
 

Besides using technology to improve the care delivery, the healthcare system also focus on how to improve the patient service journey with the introduction of new polices and guidelines from the government as a result of COVID-19.

Pandemic has taught Singapore two important lessons as the country move towards COVID-19 resilience

1. To contain the virus successfully, resilience of a country healthcare system is important
2. Pandemics are fought not only at the front lines of our healthcare system, but also on social front

Biography:

Dr. Jane Png Hong Hock is the Deputy Director of Singapore General Hospital (SGH). SGH ranked 8^th world best hospitals list in 2020 in the survey of 1600 hospitals in 21 countries by Newsweek. She obtained her Master of Science in 1993 from University of Wales, Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education from Nanyang Technology University , Singapore in 2007 and PhD in HealthCare Management in 2001 from University of Wales. Dr Jane is also very active in community work. She is the board member of Singapore Nurses Association and the Chief Nurse in St John Ambulance, Singapore. She received many national awards, including the Order of St John Award and the Honor , which was given by Queen Elizabeth II of England and gazetted in London on 27th September 2021.

She spokes in many scientific meetings and also the author and co-author of many scientific papers. She facilitates many Quality Improvement Projects in her areas of work. She is also a judge, moderator and panelist at many meetings and Nursing Conference. She is also a reviewer of many Journal papers locally and abroad. She is the member of the organizing committee for the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress 2019 held