News

From a package of instant noodles to a bottle of fruit juice, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are widely available and affordable. While cereal and bread are not obvious UPFs due to the general perception that they are healthier options, one can be more aware of how much processed foods we are consuming by reading labels carefully.

Hear from Assoc Prof Mary Chong as she emphasises the importance of awareness of the hidden prevalence of ultra-processed foods in our diets and how it contributes to preventing health risks such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer over time.

Healthier SG marks Singapore’s first major healthcare reform, shifting the focus from treating illness to preventive population health. As part of this shift and to better design solutions to achieve its goal, research studies are underway to understand the types of networks influencing health. However, with three healthcare clusters running independently, variations in programmes may confuse residents and lead to gaps in care especially if they are unaware that certain programmes are cluster specific.

A recent article published in The Lancet Western Pacific, led by Research Fellow Foo Chuan De and Assoc Prof Jason Yap, highlights the pivotal role of HealthierSG in bridging the divide between public healthcare providers and private sector general practitioners (GPs). This initiative aims to create a more cohesive healthcare ecosystem, ultimately safeguarding and improving the health of Singapore’s population.

Healthier SG is a national initiative by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that is transforming the healthcare system in Singapore by strengthening public-private partnerships, with a focus on preventive and relationship-based care. Till date, MOH continues to face unintended challenges preventing private GPs from enrolling into this initiative that brings them into closer collaboration with public healthcare providers and community organisations through regional health systems.

China’s first Alzheimer’s care village in Xi’an offers a dementia-friendly environment built on safety, dignity, and independence. Operated by Singapore-based Perennial Holdings, the village allows residents to move freely, follow meaningful routines, and engage with staff as both caregivers and companions, prioritising their quality of life.

How should we measure success in dementia care — by slowing decline, or by how well we preserve dignity, autonomy, and connection?

Hear from Asst Prof Saima Hilal as she outlines some key indicators of success and how hybrid care models may offer a more scalable solution for Singapore.

Singapore will launch its first private assisted living facility at Parry Avenue in Kovan, with enrolment set for late 2025 and move-in by early 2026. Operated by Perennial Holdings, the project offers elderly-friendly housing with care services, meeting the needs of seniors who require assistance but not extensive nursing care.

Can private assisted living balance quality care with affordability and access in an ageing Singapore?

Hear from Asst Prof Cynthia Chen as she highlights the pilot project’s potential to shape national standards and scalable models, while calling for tiered pricing, strong partnerships, and inclusive design to ensure long-term sustainability and equity.

We are delighted to announce the appointments of the School’s new Assistant Deanery, effective from 1 Jan 2025!

Assistant Dean (Education): Assoc Prof Mary Chong
Assistant Dean (Global Health): Prof Alex Cook
Assistant Dean (Practice): Assoc Prof Ng Wee Tong
Assistant Dean (Research): Assoc Prof Falk Muller-Riemenschneider

Working closely with the Vice Deans, they will play a pivotal role in providing operational leadership in implementing programmes, policies and initiatives that align with the School’s goals. This is also an important aspect of leadership succession planning.

The expertise, commitment and leadership of our Assistant Deans will be crucial as we navigate this dynamic landscape, driving meaningful change through research, education, practice and outreach.

Appointment of Associate Professor Mary Chong as Assistant Dean (Education)

Assoc Prof Chong brings an exceptional commitment to nurturing the next generation of public health professionals. Her innovative approaches to curriculum design and passion for student engagement have set new standards in educational excellence.

Working closely with Vice Dean (Education), Assoc Prof Liow Chee Hsiang, the School is poised to further elevate our academic programmes, ensuring our students are well-prepared to tackle ever-evolving public health challenges.

Appointment of Prof Alex Cook as Assistant Dean (Global Health)

Prof Cook’s exceptional contributions to global health modelling and his leadership in international collaborations position him perfectly to help lead the School’s global health efforts. His appointment signals our strong commitment to advancing global health initiatives and fostering partnerships that transcend borders.

Together with Vice Dean (Global Health), Prof Hsu Li Yang, the Global Health Office will expand the school’s global partnerships and address health challenges beyond Singapore.

For the time being, Prof Cook will continue to lead the Research Office in promoting and coordinating translational research within the School as Vice Dean (Research), and there will be further announcements with regards to changes in his leadership portfolio later this year.

Appointment of Associate Professor Ng Wee Tong as Assistant Dean (Practice)

Assoc Prof Ng has consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to bridging academic insights with real-world applications. His extensive experience in public health practice makes him uniquely equipped to lead initiatives that translate our research into meaningful improvements in population health outcomes, both locally and regionally.

Together with Vice Dean (Practice), Assoc Prof Jason Yap, they will ensure our translational research continues to address pressing public health needs and improve population health outcomes.

Assoc Prof Ng will continue to lead the School’s Continuing Education and Training (CET) Office as its Director as well as helm the Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health (CEOH) as Director.  

Appointment of Associate Prof Falk Muller-Riemenschneider as Assistant Dean (Research) 

Known for his collaborative spirit and ability to foster interdisciplinary research, Assoc Muller-Riemenschneider is a highly respected researcher whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of epidemiology and public health policy.

Together with Vice Dean (Research), Prof Alex Cook, they will guide our research agenda towards impactful discoveries and stronger partnerships across disciplines and sectors.

On his May 11 Facebook post calling for US medication prices to match the lowest globally, US President Donald Trump triggered a sharp sell-off in pharmaceutical stocks worldwide. This steep drop was quickly reversed following President Trump’s executive order the next day, which many perceived as lacking substance. How can the US sustainably lower drug prices, and what might that mean for other nations, including Singapore?

Hear from Assoc Prof Wee Hwee Lin as she breaks down the key reasons behind high drug prices in the US and what could be done to bring them down sustainably.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has designated two sites for upcoming healthcare-related developments. This includes a new integrated health and medical facility facility near Paya Lebar MRT station designed to serve a broad community, and another for a new office building that could serve as the ministry’s new headquarters at MacAlister Road within the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) campus.

Read on for more details on the developments and hear from Assoc Professor Jeremy Lim as he discusses the potential for the Paya Lebar site to enhance emergency and rehabilitation services, and function as a community hub focused on outpatient and home-based care.

The Singapore Food Agency has reported a rise in the number of cases of foodborne illnesses over the past 3 years, with more than half related to catering supply. Research co-conducted by NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health found that a one-degree Celsius rise in temperature increased the risk of Salmonella infection and diarrhoea by 10.8% and 1.3% respectively.

Find out how improper food handling practices such as cross-contamination from not separating cooked and raw foods, or failing to maintain proper temperature control for cooked food can promote bacterial growth and significantly increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Congratulations to our faculty on their leadership in global health advancement!

We are proud to share that the School, represented by Asst Prof Jasper Tromp, has been appointed as the lead Thematic Partner with the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO) to focus research on the theme of “Models of sustainable financing, commissioning, delivering, and harmonising, people-centred services including primary health care to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”.

In parallel, we would also like to highlight that the School, represented by Assoc Prof Yi Siyan, will be co-Leading another APO thematic partnership with the School of Public Health from Fudan University on the theme of “Tackling inequities in health due to gender, social inequities, being uncounted, or unreached”. The research will focus on advancing equity, people-centred care, and resilient health systems through integrated primary health care, empowered communities, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable service delivery.

Their contributions reflect the School’s commitment to shaping evidence-informed health systems in the region.