In a major move to increase the expertise of its medical practitioners, the Singapore government has announced its plan to commence the post graduate training programme. The two year PG Course curriculum will now transcend from the British style to the US structured system which has already commenced a few weeks ago.

The move is in the wake of the Fortis-Parkway hospital acquisition in Singapore and is viewed to strengthen the capability of doctors in the region, besides further strengthen Singapore as a medical hub.

The Fortis-Parkway deal will see management of healthcare businesses of Parkway and its group of companies. It will help Fortis Group to maximize the combined competitive strengths. Together, Parkway and Fortis will create the premier healthcare services network in Asia.

Since the government of Singapore is looking for significant improvement of healthcare for the people, the Fortis Parkway agreement is a welcome move to provide the healthcare for people there. This is an age of collaborations and for the medical sector it will provide a boost to get the best of treatment options for the emerging and existing diseases. “My government welcomes Fortis-Parkway deal. We have rules and regulations. Therefore, as long as healthcare providers from different countries come here they will have to adhere to Singapore standards,” Professor K Satku, director of medical education, Ministry of Health, Government of Singapore told the media here at the sidelines of the 6th Asian Interventional Cardiovascular Congress being held here at Singapore.

Last evening Fortis Healthcare announced in Singapore its voluntary general offer to acquire Parkway Holdings at an offer price of Singapore $ 3.2 per share in cash with RHC Healthcare Pte Ltd, a company jointly-owned by RHC Holding Pvt Ltd, and Fortis Healthcare Limited.

Fortis entry will further bolster the healthcare sector in Singapore. It would also increase the need for faster specialization. In order to keep pace with the growing developments, the government of Singapore took a pragmatic decision to streamline its post graduate courses. .

This is where our plans for enhancements to the local post graduate training system to move away from British apprentice type system to the more structured US styled system came about, said the Singapore government Director of Medical Services.

“We are looking to make the Singapore’s post graduate medical education more efficient and not to drive sub-specialization. There are already many forces at play globally which have been shaping the subspecialty of healthcare .There is a trend to provide specialized cost-effective services cost efficiently and institutions to value efficiency and cost containment over professionalism and holistic care . The advantages of sub-specialization are increased expertise and enhanced proficiency and skill,” he added.

“Well-rounded care is also a need to nurture doctors who are equipped with a depth of expertise in specialty medicine but who at the same time retain breadth needed to provide of intelligent well-rounded care,” said Prof. Saktu.

The government has both the public and private component in healthcare industry.. Healthcare finances is a critical part of the ministry of health which now accounts for 30 percent of the total budget allocation. A major component of the patient costs are met by two insurance schemes: MediSafe a mandatory personal contribution by Singapore citizens and a catastrophy policy known as MediShield designed to protect the healthcare expenses, he said.

Going by the expertise and the infrastructure , the western world has instilled much confidence in the medical care provided by hospitals in Singapore. This makes foreign patients flock to this part of the world for access to high quality care are cost effectively .

The government’s second phase of biomedical initiative has witnessed increased number global multi-centric trials and to ensure best drug regimes and healthcare management in the future. “The increased awareness and access to early medical intervention has increased volumes and we are looking for prudent and evidence based methods to interpret data of the trials,” Prof. Tan Huay Cheem, chairman, 6th AICT 2010 Executive Committee.