External Review Panel on SAF Safety Reviews Medical Care System in the SAF

Members of the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) toured the Medical Simulation Training Centre as part of their visit to Headquarters Medical Corps.

The External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) visited Headquarters Medical Corps (HQMC) today as part of its safety review of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The programme comprised a series of briefs on the SAF medical support system to allow the ERPSS to assess the adequacy of the SAF's medical practices.  The entourage also visited the Medical Simulation Training Centre in HQMC to get a first-hand view of some of the training facilities available to the SAF's medical staff.

After the visit, Professor Julian Thumboo, Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the Singapore General Hospital, and member of the ERPSS, said that the briefings had generated healthy discussion amongst panel members, who raised many questions and offered several suggestions. "I think the SAF's medical support system has made very impressive strides in the last 10 to 20 years. In some ways, it is even more integrated than other aspects of the public healthcare system. For example, the electronic medical record (EMR) that has been in place for over 10 years. I think it is something that is very useful. In this, the SAF is leading the way. It allows for the sharing of information. It is basically the way forward for healthcare. In polyclinics and restructured hospitals, the EMR was implemented only in the last several years." he said.

ERPSS is an external review panel established to provide an external assessment of the SAF's safety system.  It is chaired by Mr Alan Chan Heng Loon, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Press Holdings, who is supported by a team of nine industry leaders, safety experts and professionals. Supported by MINDEF's Safety and Systems Review Directorate, ERPSS will visit a cross-section of Army, Navy and Air Force units to assess their safety practices and recommend improvements. Since its establishment in October 2013, the ERPSS has visited the Basic Military Training Centre, Officer Cadet School, Specialist Cadet School and Exercise Golden Sand.

The ERPSS members viewing a training simulator demonstration while being briefed by a staff from HQMC.