International Panel Visits Singapore to Conduct Review of Medical Education System - Ministry of Education press release (20 Apr 2001)

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INTERNATIONAL PANEL VISITS SINGAPORE TO CONDUCT
REVIEW OF MEDICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM

1 An international panel, led by Lord R. Oxburgh, Honorary Professor, University of Cambridge, is in Singapore from 23 to 26 April 2001 to conduct a review of our medical education system. The other members of the panel are: Professor Per Belfrage (Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, Sweden), Professor John Bell (Nuffield Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford, UK), Professor Richard Larkins (Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia), and Dr Edward D. Miller (CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine & Dean of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA).

2 The panel has been tasked with a comprehensive review of the system of medical education in Singapore to ensure that our medical education system is up-to-date and capable of serving the needs of our economy and society. To facilitate their review, the panel will visit the medical faculty at NUS, facilities relating to life sciences initiatives at NTU, the School of Health Sciences at Nanyang Polytechnic as well as hospitals and research institutes.

3 During their stay in Singapore, the panel will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Dr Tony Tan, Minister for Health, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Education, RAdm (NS) Teo Chee Hean, as well as officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Economic Development Board, and National Science and Technology Board. The panel will also meet members of the medical profession and the life sciences industry to learn about their manpower needs and concerns pertaining to their respective professions.

4 During their various meetings and visits, the panel will have the opportunity to discuss the needs of the healthcare sector, Singapore's intent to build up its life sciences capability, and the training of medical doctors, taking into account the possibility of some medically-trained personnel taking up careers in the broader life sciences cluster beyond patient care and clinical research.

5 The panel is expected to complete its review in the second half of 2001 and will submit its recommendations to the Ministry of Education for consideration.