SPEECH BY MDM HALIMAH YACOB, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MARSILING –YEW TEE GRC AT SIAN CHAY INSTITUTION’S
SPEECH BY MDM HALIMAH YACOB, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR MARSILING –YEW TEE GRC AT SIAN CHAY INSTITUTION’S
Chairman of Sian Chay Medical Institution, Dato Seri Dr Toh Soon Huat, PBM, PVP;
Chairman Organising Chairman Mr Kenny Lim;
My parliamentary colleague Ms Low Yen Ling;
Distinguished guests and friends,
It is, indeed, an honor and privilege to attend this charity gala dinner, appropriately called “Love from Sian Chay 2017”. It is the love of some Chinese immigrants from southern China that found its expression in 1901 when they set up Sian Chay Medical Institution. It is a love for the community and humanity that prompted them to provide free consultation, subsidized medicine and treatment to all members of society, regardless of race, religion or social standing.
This love has now been extended to cover members of the Pioneer Generation as well as people needing mental healthcare. I am told that 135,994 Pioneer Generation patients were served by Sian Chay last year and that this figure is almost 41% of its overall patient visits.
To better serve this group of Pioneers who had contributed to the growth of Singapore, a Pioneer Generation Medical Fund (PGMF) has been set up with a very generous $2 million donation from the Lee Foundation. Tonight, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lee Foundation for its big-heartedness and outstanding example when it comes to its social mission of looking after the less fortunate in our society, and to urge other like-minded organisations to come forward to do the same. It is efforts like this that help provide hope for the many out there who need our help.
Indeed, with this Fund, Sian Chay is now able to grant full waiver of medical charges for the members of the Pioneer Generation.
Sian Chay has also entered into community partnership with Silver Ribbon (Singapore), a non-profit organisation launched by our late President S R Nathan on 4 February 2006 to provide mental healthcare, and with the Organisation of Senior Volunteers (RSVP) to promote the wellbeing of senior volunteers.
The community services provided by Sian Chay Institution have seen exponential growth over the years. Its network of 13 branches and 115 full-time TCM staff serve an average of 1,000 patients daily. TCM’s principles and approach to disease prevention and management have an important role to play, alongside mainstream medicine, in meeting the healthcare challenges and needs of Singapore’s ageing population.
I am delighted that Sian Chay Medical Institution operates a branch in my constituency in Marsiling as well, serving a daily average of over 200 patient visits, with senior citizens forming more than half the number. In our MPS and house-to-house visits, we encourage our residents to make full use of the Traditional Chinese Medicine service rendered by Sian Chay. And I am happy to note that its Marsiling branch is serving the highest number of non-Chinese patients amongst the 13 branches of the Institution. Residents are participating actively in the activities at its Wellness Centre, interacting amongst themselves, building bonds and friendship in the process. I wish to thank Sian Chay Institution for the support and service it has given and is continuing to give to the residents of Marsiling, relieving pain and suffering, and enabling them to lead healthy and blissful lives.
Sian Chay Institution also promotes social harmony with its five core values of Forgiveness, Universal Love, Compassion, Gratitude and Blessing throughout its branches island-wide.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has put in place many measures to raise the professionalism of TCM practitioners to enhance its safety and efficacy. For instance, recognising that evidence-based research is key to TCM’s continued development, MOH has set aside $3 million to encourage collaborative research in TCM on chronic conditions that are prevalent in Singapore. MOH will also be engaging various stakeholders in the TCM sector later this year to seek ideas and feedback on how to improve the professional standards of the industry. I would like to encourage Sian Chay Medical Institution and the TCM community to engage in collaborative research on the safety and effectiveness of TCM treatments and, collectively, raise the professional standards of the TCM industry in Singapore.
Many TCM charities, including Sian Chay Institution, have focused on delivering affordable TCM care for Singaporeans, especially the elderly and the needy within our population. They can only do this if they continue to have a dedicated pool of volunteers and a constant flow of generous donations coming from donors, sponsors, and the public. It is towards this end that this Sian Chay Gala Dinner is organised.
I wish to commend Sian Chay Institution for its good work in serving Singaporeans through TCM with the help of donors who are gathered here tonight.
It is my pleasure to announce that I have decided to accept Sian Chay Institution’s invitation to be its Patron. Thank you for the privilege. I am proud of all of you. May you all have a great time tonight at this Charity Gala Dinner.