On 13 February 2023, Singapore returned to Dorscon (Disease Outbreak Response System Condition) green for Covid-19 pandemic, after three years of heightened alert. Research and innovation (e.g. antigen rapid test (ART) kits, messenger-RNA based vaccines, anti-viral therapy etc.) has played a pivotal role in helping mankind to recover from this global crisis. However, more can be done to take stock of the pandemic, so that we can derive helpful lessons that may inform our fight against other major health-challenges (e.g. metabolic disorders and ageing related ailments), which the Covid-19 pandemic may have momentarily distracted us from their growing impact. Hence, it is time that we refocus upon some of these challenges (e.g. our "war against diabetes", declared since year 2016).
Our era is unparallel in human history. Many of our forefathers would like to imagine a world that we are now living in - in which we have the capabilities (e.g. molecular medicine, multi-OMICS, digital health etc.) to understand human biology and diseases in such molecular details and to creatively design targeted and effective therapeutics. While celebrating these successes, we are also keenly aware of crucial opportunities that will be missed, unless we healthcare providers will fully embrace clinically relevant research as an integral part of our calling and missions. Importantly, we are an indispensable member of the research enterprise.
Our new Group CEO, Professor Joe Sim, has highlighted “deepening research culture in NHG” as one of our key strategic priorities. This is a call-to-action. To succeed, we will need to adopt a “whole of NHG approach”, in close collaboration with our academic partners - Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Nanyang Technological University.
Science is not magic. However, we do not have anything better, to respond decisively to any health challenges. Guided by good science, humility and wisdom, we can rise-up to the occasion, just like the Covid-19 pandemic.
We did it before, and we will do it again.
A/Prof Lim Su Chi
Clinical Director
Clinical Research Unit
