Collabor-EIGHT: Where Care Intertwines

Catching emergencies early
Inventions that seed tomorrow's healthcare infrastructure
Nurturing the next generation of healthcare innovators
Specialist support where it matters most
Global pathways for shared care
Designing a healthcare system for patients by patients
Seeding continuity of care
Advocacy in action
This strategist behind the scenes incubates impactful partnerships

We collaborate within and beyond the healthcare sector to advance knowledge, improve care and build healthier communities. Together with our partners, Changi General Hospital (CGH) focuses on eight key areas that bring care, knowledge and innovation to life. These areas form the foundation of our collaborations, each addressing pressing needs and creating new possibilities for better patient outcomes.

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE INNOVATORS

As patients’ needs become more multifaceted, education and training are vital to sustaining excellence in healthcare. Our academic partnerships form learning ecosystems that address immediate skill gaps and long-term workforce development needs. By collaborating with Singapore’s leading educational institutions, students gain real-world experience while we benefit from fresh perspectives and cutting-edge academic research.

One example is the Blood WArning Technology with Continuous Haemoglobin (BWATCH) sensor, a contactless sensor that detects wound bleeding, cocreated with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), validated in trials and now patented in Singapore and the United States.

Meanwhile, students and faculty of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) work alongside our innovators on design thinking, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve workflows and population health. This partnership deepens practice-oriented healthcare education, building a workforce readyto innovate solutions that improve the way we deliver care.

Our partnership with ITE College West brings preventive healthcare and exercise science into curricula and communities. Students join our Sport and Exercise Medicine team for practical training, while outreach activities promote active living in neighbourhoods. Together with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), we nurture expertise in ageing and mental health. Postgraduate students take part in internships and joint projects that support elder-friendly communities and explore new models of psychological care.

“We produce graduates who are equipped with advanced technological skill sets to support the local healthcare sector.”

Prof Chua Kee Chaing, SIT President

SPECIALIST SUPPORT WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

Health and wellbeing are nurtured not only in hospitals, but also in the places where people play, live and work. Our collaborations with national agencies and industry partners extend care into daily environments through comprehensive occupational health programmes that address diverse needs, building a healthier and more resilient community.

Occupational health is fundamental to community wellbeing. By understanding various industries, we provide targeted healthcare that addresses the unique challenges faced by different professions, from physical demands to workplace safety concerns.

Sport and exercise medicine specialists deliver injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes, in collaboration with the Singapore Sport Institute and Sport Singapore, to keep national athletes in prime condition. We also support residents through community initiatives such as the Active Health Lab at Our Tampines Hub that bring personalised guidance on exercise and safe living to families.

Healthcare also extends to correctional settings, where medical needs are often complex and long term. In partnership withthe Singapore Prison Service and SingHealth Polyclinics, we provide holistic care for inmates, managing chronic and mental health conditions within secure facilities and through telehealth. Crucially, care continues after release, supporting rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

GLOBAL PATHWAYS FOR SHARED CARE

The most transformative innovations emerge when brilliant minds collaborate across continents. At CGH, international partnerships embody a shared commitment to advancing healthcare excellence. Through these strategic alliances, we create new pathways for knowledge exchange that strengthen medical practice both locally and globally.

Branching out beyond borders

CGH’s partnership with Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has spanned more than two decades. It began with academic ties and has grown into fellowships, observerships and exchanges that enrich both institutions. Doctors, nurses and allied health staff have trained in programmes ranging robotic surgery, frailty management and traditional Chinese medicine.

This long-standing relationship is symbolised by trees planted on the CGH campus – living reminders of growth and renewal. Beyond exchanges, the collaboration extends to hosting medical awareness seminars across Southeast Asia, covering topics from aesthetic surgery to proton beam therapy in Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

CGH forms collaborations with community partners, such as SECDC, to enhance care beyond the hospital. (From left to right) Clin Assoc Prof How Choon How, Chairman, Division of Continuity Care, and Director, SingHealth Office of Regional Health, East Campus; Clin Assoc Prof Siau Chuin, Chairman, Medical Board, CGH; Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman, then-Mayor of South East District; Clin Prof Ng Kee Chong, Chief Executive Officer; Mr Roy Chew, General Manager, SECDC.

With the SECDC, we launched the Neighbours for Active Living programme in 2013, providing home visits, care and companionship for residents with complex health and social needs after discharge. In 2015, we established the Enhancing Advance Care Planning, Geriatric Care and End of Life Care in Nursing Homes in the East (EAGLEcare) programme, bringing CGH specialists into nursing homes to guide advance care planningand manage complex conditions for residents there.

The EAGLEcare clinical team conducts hands-on training sessions for nursing home staff.

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

At the heart of CGH lies its mission of delivering care with passion and empathy, where advocacy and service continue to define our institutional character. As a trusted care partner of the community, we reinforce our commitment to holistic care that extends beyond clinical settings.

These principles guide our efforts in community engagement and sustainability initiatives, ensuring that volunteer initiatives are impactful, and that they resonate with both our values and the community’s needs. This includes mobilising volunteers and fostering a culture of empathy and service among our staff. Our partnership with MUIS, MENDAKI and MESRA (M3) exemplifies our support for social causes to uplift families facing complex challenges. We support programmes such as Project Dian, which helps underprivileged families. Staff volunteers contribute their time and expertise through befriending services, digital literacy sessions and financial education programmes. These shared experiences help families build resilience and create stronger foundations for their future, fostering meaningful connections beyond hospital care.

The collaboration also extends to global causes. In 2025, we joined M³ in ‘SG60 Action: Aid for Gaza’, a fundraising effort that brought communities, volunteers and corporate partners together across faiths and backgrounds to channel humanitarian aid.

Looking ahead, we will deepen collaboration with M³ through structured volunteer training programmes in healthcare andcommunity engagement practices. These efforts ensure that advocacy and service remain central to our culture, empowering both volunteers and beneficiaries to create lasting change.

THIS STRATEGIST BEHIND THE SCENES INCUBATES IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Irene Evette Chua
Assistant Director, Strategic Services Office

Irene Evette Chua describes her work as ‘a Kinder Egg surprise’. As Assistant Director, Strategic Services Office, no two days for her mirror each other. One moment, she prepares for a symposium, the next, she troubleshoots a project proposal with clinicians and external partners. What connects these moments is her role as the bridge between people, ideas and institutions.

Since joining CGH over a decade ago, Irene has developed collaborations in healthcare with industries and communities. Her team works behind the scenes, yet their impact shines throughthe partnerships we have nurtured. From developing occupational health programmes to supporting training that builds internal capabilities, Irene and her team negotiate, align stakeholders and transform ideas into action.

“We don’t just talk about ideas; we roll up our sleeves and turn them into action,” Irene explains. Her approach follows a clear principle: partnerships must deliver genuine value. She listens to colleagues and partners, asks the right questions, and pieces together ideas into workable frameworks. When discussions stall, her persistence keeps conversations moving until progress emerges. That determination has seen projects mature over years. When they finally launch, the pride is unforgettable.

One collaboration took nearly three years to materialise: a specialised first responder basic medical skills training programme for airport firefighters. When the first training session launched, Irene felt relief, joy and fulfilment merged into one moment.

Irene also ensures partnerships drive innovation whilst aligning with the hospital’s mission of advancing patient care.

“What makes a good partner is a shared purpose – someone who is genuinely aligned in values and committed for the longterm. It is important that collaborations make a meaningful difference on the ground,” she notes. This sometimes means holding firm against proposals that do not fit our priorities, balancing diplomacy with clarity.

What makes CGH a strong partner, she explains, is its people. It is the people that ensure that spirit of collaboration and service reaches beyond hospital walls, through sustainable partnerships that improve workplaces, strengthen communities and shape healthcare’s future.

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