Panel of doctors guiding SDP's health policies

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Thursday, 05 May 2011

Singapore Democrats

Adding to the growing list of high-calibre professionals who are with the SDP is a team of seven medical professionals who are guiding the party's proposed Shadow Healthcare Plan: Healing With Care.

In the panel is Associate Professor Paul Tambyah. Prof Tambyah is with the Department of Medicine at a major teaching hospital. You can catch Prof Tambyah as he scheduled to speak at the SDP's lunchtime rally today, 5 May 11, at the UOB Plaza starting at 12 noon. (Text of Dr Paul Tambyah's speech at SDP's rally)

The panel also includes SDP candidate for Holland-BT GRC Dr Ang Yong Guan, a reknowned psychiatrist who headed the psychological medicine unit at the Singapore Armed Forces. Dr Ang, who was a Colonel at SAF, is now in private practice with his clinic at the Paragon.

The other members of this panel are: Dr Wong Wee Nam, Dr Patrick Kee, Dr Leong Yan Hoi, and Dr Tan Lip Hong.

It seems hard to believe but these very capable medical professionals are now assisting the SDP to craft our healthcare plan which is spearheaded by Dr James Gomez, SDP's candidate for the Sembawang GRC.

The SDP is growing with more and more high-calibre professionals either joining our ranks or assisting us. This bodes well for the party's present and future. Voters of Bukit Panjang, Holland-BT, Sembawang and Yuhua have reason to feel secure that they will be good hands when the elect our candidates.

With such a high-powered team, the party is able to present a credible alternative healthcare plan which has made the PAP's candidate for the GRC, Mr Khaw Boon Wan who is also the health minister, go on the defensive.

Mr Khaw concedes that he shares the SDP's objective to make healthcare convenient for the people - an admission that the current system is not convenient.

What Mr Khaw takes issue with is that there isn't enough doctors and nurses to fill the need. He should not be criticising the SDP's plans but his colleague Mr Ng Eng Hen who is education minister, for failing to meet the needs of a growing population.

How is it that after so many years in charge, Messrs Khaw and Ng are unable to produce a steady stream of medical professionals to meet the demands of the people? Isn't this a clear signal that the PAP has not been up to scratch in their job performance?

The SDP has proposed the following recommendations in our healthcare plan:

Expand healthcare budget by three times the current anount. The PAP hoards our reserves instead of investing it in our people's health.
Convert void decks into polyclinics where people can have easy access to medical care.
Increase healthcare personnel by encouraging our doctors in private practice to perform consultation in our public hospitals and polyclinics. Our education ministry must also look into expanding our medical schools to train more doctors and nurses.
Make health insurance universal where all Singaporeans are covered for medical treatment.

For a more comprehensive view of our Shadow Healthcare Plan, please click here.

Note: More photos of the rally at SDP's photo gallery.

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Comments (5)

Thu 05 May 2011 6:50 AM | Jufrie - Found wanting but still get pay rise

Even before getting into Parliament the SDP managed to point out the many failures of PAP ministers. This is what happens if only the PM of the same party assesses their performance and grant them pay rises and performance bonuses etc.

Isn't it time that they be assessed by others?

I strongly believe that once the SDP makes it into Parliament many more qualified people, who are silently waiting on the sideline, would join us to build a better Singapore for all.

But first voters, especially those living in Holland/Bukit Timah GRC, Sembawang GRC, Yuhua and Bt Panjang SMCs, must do their part by taking the first very step to bring about this change.

You will go down in history as pioneers who brought about significant change to Singapore.

Thu 05 May 2011 9:00 AM | Robox

Well, here it is: the final stretch of the most important elections campaign in my living memory.

Two years ago, I predicted right on this blog that this is exactly how it was going to turn out, and at every phase along the way, it seemed that my prediction was going to turn out to be true. But, if SDP remembers, the prediction was specific to the SDP alone: this, I had said, was the elections that was going to be the first time in a long time, that the SDP could expect a turnaround in its own fortunes. (I also acknowledged that the elections itself will continue to be tough.) None of this was clairvoyance, but just my intutive feel for mass psychology, human processes, etc. (I'm leaving out some crucial details for later.)

I do want the SDP, and especially the thousands of new converts to its support base, that May 8 will only be the beginning of The Struggle, but one in which people will start responding more positively - in general - whenever the SDP speaks. The real work will only begin on May 8; everything else was the necessary groudwork for that to happen.

I feel so proud that I hada role to play in this. I feel proud that I had made the choice to throw my support wholeheartedly behind the SDP.

Most of all I feel so proud that the SDP NEVER once gave up! there will be time to talk later.

For today's CBD rally, break a leg.

Thu 05 May 2011 9:08 AM | MF - yes!

Right! That's the way forward!
Base on this issue alone SDP scored 2 good point already
1) by showing us plainly who are the brains behind the system, and actually with good credential, better then PAP.
2) by putting forward fresh ideas within contextual circumstances, lets deal with problems where they really are.
We are so sick and tired of the national press just parroting the 'bulldoze politics of the PAP'.
Year after year, PAP ministers behaving like beggars asking for more pay and more bonus but practically NOT using their brain.
Soon these PAP brains might just end up in some white elephant museum with high price tag, because they NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE!
Or rather, PAP were just using part of their brains counting all the dollars and cents, ERP and GST and whatever $ they can get from us.
Good for the oppositions, lets kick some useless ass out of parliament!

Thu 05 May 2011 10:29 AM | get ailve - True Sigaporeans going to Extinction?

"SINGAPORE — 2010 saw the birth rate continue to decline.Some 31,500 babies were born between January and October.
The number of births to Singaporean couples saw an even steeper decline — 17,238 babies, down 5.2 per cent from thesame period last year" Today Friday Dec 31, 2010
2010 Total Births 31,500 minus Singaporeans Births 17,238 = 14,262 Other Births (40 to 45% of Total Births)
If we do not vote wisely NOW! You will be a stranger in your homeland!
Your child, grandchild will have 50% OTHER classmates in few yrs time!

Result of overly STRICT 2 Child Policy of 20 years.
BIG MISTAKE that lead to NOW having more FTs, another
BIG MISTAKE that our children and grand children will suffer for?
Regards, Merlion...( now extinct :)

Thu 05 May 2011 5:31 PM | RW

I am a forty-seven years old man. In my life as a Singaporean and in a so-called democratic Singapore, ironically, I have only two chances of casting GE vote. This GE is the third time.

I remembered the first time was in 1988. Then Mr. Low Thia Khiang was the candidate for Tiong Bahru GRC. He got my support.

The second time was the last election in Sembawang GRC. SDP was contesting it. SDP got my vote too.

This is the third time. SDP will again get my vote too.

Why am I keep voting the opposition? Isn't the present government doing good enough for us?

My reason is simple. One - to have a check and balance in our government. Second - I believe in SDP will represent me and all residents in Sembawang as well as the whole of Singapore in Parliament.

In the past five years under the PAP, I do not see a better living condition in my area. Everything is status quo. My PAP MP had not done enough for us besides drawing high salaries.

So, SDP do not disappoint us and I believe you will not disappoint us. We will march together towards a better tomorrow.