News

Join us for the online symposium on modelling & policy making in Singapore on 13 Nov 2023. This symposium will bring together the views from both ends of the policy maker – modeller spectrum to identify best practices for a modelling community that provides valuable support to policy making during outbreaks in South East Asia.

Health Minister, Mr Ong Ye Kung, announced that Singapore's looking at ways to prevent insured citizens from overspending on unnecessary medical treatments. Speaking at the 15th Singapore Economic Policy Forum, Minister Ong explained that such wastage could result in higher healthcare insurance premiums. And if it is a market based system, those with lower incomes may have to forgo their private insurance coverage. Thus, the Ministry of Health is considering differentiating insurance premiums between those with and without appropriate lifestyles.

The escalating prevalence of diabetes in Singapore is akin to a silent takeover, with an expected increase of 200,000 diabetic residents above 40 by 2030 from about 400,000 today. As there is presently no cure for diabetes, keeping it under control is essential. Hear from Prof Chia Kee Seng, Founding Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and Assoc Prof Kavita Venkataraman as they weigh in on who is most at risk of diabetes and the direct and indirect costs of this chronic condition.

On 9 Oct 2023, Prof David Koh and Assoc Prof Ng Wee Tong visited the University of Occupational & Environmental Health (UOEH) in Japan on behalf of the School. The primary purpose was to discuss the operationalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the School and UOEH. The MOU signifies both institution's collective commitment to promoting collaboration and the exchange of information on scientific topics of mutual interest within the realm of occupational health and safety.

For the past 15 years, the President's Science & Technology Awards (PSTA) has recognised the country’s top research scientists and engineers in Singapore. In anticipation of this year's Awards on 20 Oct, The Straits Times is taking a look at the past recipients who have made exceptional contributions in pushing the boundaries of the science and technology landscape in Singapore. Amongst them is Professor Saw Seang Mei whose team was awarded the President’s Science Award in 2019.

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is “mental health is a universal human right”, highlighting mental health as integral part of our overall health and wellbeing. Recognising this, mental health prevention and support will be incorporated as part of the General Practitioners’ scope of practice under Healthier SG in the coming two years.

2023 marks the 12th anniversary of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Faculty, staff and guests came together to celebrate this joyous occasion on 6 Oct 2023. Since its inception in October 2011 as Singapore’s first national public health tertiary education institution, the School has grown tremendously and made significant contributions to public health, and we are delighted to see everyone back together to commemorate this journey.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Singapore today and treatment can be very expensive. In Sep 2022, the Cancer Drug List (CDL) was introduced and only included only treatments that are both clinically proven and more cost-effective. This has helped to stem the escalating cost of cancer treatments in the public health sector as drug companies are willing to offer lower prices to keep their drugs on the list.

The Leadership in Global Health roundtable discussion took place on 13 Sep 2023 at the Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation at Imperial College Business School. Co-organised by the School and the George Institute UK, it was held in the context of a meeting of a new Lancet Commission - the Pandemic Readiness, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME) Commission, co-led by Prof Helena Legido-Quigley.

On 25th September 2023, the School and the Centre of Sustainable Medicine by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine jointly organised a lecture on “Climate Change and Health: Panel Discussions on Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation within the Health Sector”. This event is supported by NUS Sustainability CONNECT, a five-week festival that showcases the University’s efforts across research and innovation, education, campus operations, and student engagement. We were privileged to have Dr Munirul Alam, Senior Scientist, International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b); Dr Zulkhairul Naim, Senior Medical Lecturer,Read more

Asst Prof Jasper Tromp and Dr Andre Matthias Mueller were awarded the NUHS Teaching Excellence Award at the NUHS Educators' Day Learning Festival & Awards Ceremony 2023. This annual event is a special occasion to appreciate and celebrate the successes of our educators for their dedication and perseverance in giving their very best to nurture budding learners.