Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Singapore.

  • Singapore. Medical Department
Date:
[1955]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Singapore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/310 page 3
    (v) Ancillary Personnel Eight almoners completed training in 1955 and were awarded the certificate of the Malayan Association of Almoners; of these five were Singapore Government, one from the Federation of Malaya and two private students from Singapore who paid for their own expenses. Four officers were sent overseas for training as Radiographers. Two officers were sent overseas for training as Physiotherapists. 6. On 31st December, 1955, the number of registered doctors, dentists and pharmacists in Singapore was as follows: — Doctors Dentists Pharmacists Private Practitioners ... 280 33 73 Government 147 23 12 University (teaching staff) 25 10 — City Council 20 — — Provisionally registered housemen ... 26 5 — Total 498 71 85 7. It can be seen that for an estimated population of one and a quarter million, the number of medical practitioners still is insufficient; Singapore, nevertheless, is far better off than neighbouring territories. A more serious shortage in Singapore is of doctors trained and experienced in the various specialist spheres of medicine and surgery. 8. The Singapore Government has continued to provide bursaries for University training and to provide scholarships and training courses for post¬ graduate specialisation. During the academic year 1955/56 new bursaries or financial grants were awarded to twenty-seven medical students, two dental students and two pharmacy students. During 1955 eight doctors were sent for post-graduate education and paid for from public funds. This number compares with six in 1954. 9. With such arrangements made for the training of professional per¬ sonnel of all categories, it has been possible to go forward with the planning for physical expansion and development of curative and preventive insti¬ tutions. The Medical Plan for a capital building programme estimated at $33^ million was approved in 1948. This plan was again revised in 1955 and the Medical Development Plan approved by the present Government provides- for a programme bringing the total estimate to $58 million. 10. Development and expansion of hospital services continued without break in 1955. In the General Hospital two notable events in the imple¬ mentation of the Medical Plan were the opening of the new theatre block in April and the ‘Mistri Wing’ of the Children’s Department in October. The theatre block includes two units each comprising a major theatre, twin theatres and a minor theatre, wards for first and second class patients^ extensive accommodation for consulting rooms, etc. and teaching facilities for medical students. The work of reconstruction and redecoration of the surgical wards for the two general surgical units was completed. The ‘Mistri Wing’,, named after the late N. R. Mistri, Esq. who donated almost the entire cost of the building, comprises four floors accommodating two paediatric units: each of 150 beds. The building is of modern architectural design and includes accommodation for admission units, wards for children aged six years to ten years, lecture rooms and administrative offices on the ground and first
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3