1. Residents living in the Bukit Panjang, Kallang and Eunos areas will be able to access a comprehensive range of primary care services, with the opening of a new polyclinic in each of these areas in the last quarter of 2021. In addition, residents living in the Tiong Bahru area can look forward to a new polyclinic. These plans were announced by Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health, during his visit to the integrated Bukit Panjang Polyclinic and Senja Care Home on 2 October 2021, when the new polyclinic received its first patients and residents.
2. As our population ages and chronic disease prevalence increases, we will need to shift our focus to upstream preventive and early disease management to reduce downstream health complications. The opening of Bukit Panjang, Kallang and Eunos Polyclinics strengthens our primary care capacity to provide Singaporeans with greater access to a comprehensive range of affordable and quality primary care services, that cater to the different needs of residents, from young families to seniors. These services include women and child health services, medical treatment for acute conditions, chronic disease management, allied health services, as well as radiological, laboratory and pharmacy services. The three polyclinics are integrated with other healthcare facilities. The co-location with various healthcare facilities provides an opportunity for joint programming and collaborations that offer holistic care and improve health outcomes.
3. Bukit Panjang Polyclinic (50 Woodlands Road) is operated by the National University Polyclinics. It is the first polyclinic to be co-located with a nursing home and a senior care centre. Senja Care Home and Vanguard Senior Care (Senja) are operated by Vanguard Healthcare, and collectively offers residential care, day care, community rehabilitation and physiotherapy services, providing a continuum of care services for seniors. The eldercare facilities have a capacity of 365 beds and 60 day care places, and started operations in August 2021.
4. The National Healthcare Group Polyclinics also opened the new Kallang Polyclinic (701 Serangoon Road) on 2 October 2021, which is co-located with Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital’s (KWSH) long-term care facility with a capacity of 128 beds for chronic sick patients. These patients have advanced and complicated chronic medical conditions requiring long-term nursing and frequent medical care. KWSH’s long term care facility will commence operations in early October 2021.
5. Eunos Polyclinic (1 Chin Cheng Avenue), operated by SingHealth Polyclinics, is co-located with a senior care centre with 60 day care places, operated by Methodist Welfare Services and is expected to open in mid-December 2021.
New Polyclinic in Tiong Bahru
6. As part of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) continuous effort to refresh our polyclinic infrastructure to meet the increasing and evolving healthcare needs of the residents, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be consolidating Bukit Merah and Outram Polyclinics into a larger new polyclinic in Tiong Bahru by 2030. Residents can look forward to a new polyclinic that will be more spacious, with elderly-friendly and accessibility features. The polyclinic will also provide holistic and seamless primary care services for residents in the region. The existing Bukit Merah and Outram Polyclinics will continue to serve the residents until the new polyclinic in Tiong Bahru opens. More details on this new polyclinic, including its location, will be shared when ready.
7. Against a backdrop of an ageing population and concomitant increase in chronic disease prevalence, MOH has been expanding our polyclinic network to strengthen primary care capacity as we shift our focus to upstream preventive and early disease management to reduce downstream health complications. Works on new polyclinics in Sembawang, Kaki Bukit, Khatib, Serangoon, Tampines North, Tengah, Yew Tee, Bidadari and Bishan are ongoing.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
2 OCTOBER 2021