Although the free screening started at 8:00am, early birds started queuing by 7:30am. More than 6 screening counters were set up and extra staff from the departments of urology, nursing and specialist clinics were deployed to register participants, take blood samples, counsel patients and give talks. Though the queue snaked through the Main Lobby, the hospital provided complimentary drinks and refreshments (sandwiches and cakes) to help ease the wait.

CGH had one of the highest number of participants among the hospitals that participated in the screening exercise, which included Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and National University Hospital.

The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test which usually costs about $30 is an early screening test for prostate cancer. Men aged above 50 years old with no active follow up for any prostate condition and had no PSA done in the past 12 months qualified for the free screening.

Mr Chao Kok Hoang, 57, was pleased with the free prostate screening at CGH. He said, “When my time came to extract blood sample, there was a young Filipino nurse who was very helpful, she assisted me by reading out questions from a form since I have not brought my reading glasses with me. My commendations must also go to the doctors and general staff who in one way or another contributed to the smooth and successful running of the campaign.”

Besides free PSA screening, there was an educational exhibition on prostate diseases as well as hourly public talks on BPH, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer by the Department of Urology doctors from 10am to 7pm.

Coincidentally, the last mass prostate screening exercise by SUA was conducted in Toa Payoh Hospital, CGH’s predecessor, in 1994. A total of 852 men participated in the free prostate assessment.