Welcome Address by Assoc Prof Gan Wee Hoe, Pro Tem CEO, Eastern General Hospital, And CEO, SingHealth Community Hospitals, at the EGH Campus Health Fest on 7 March 2026, 10.25am

Mr Tan Kiat How

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health

Mr Cheng Wai Keung

Chairman, SingHealth Board and Eastern Project Committee

Distinguished guests, partners, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1.          Good morning and a very warm welcome to the EGH Campus Health Fest, jointly organised by teams from the Eastern General Hospital and Eastern Community Hospital. It is my pleasure to have you join us at this special community health event. In the next few minutes, I will share more about the upcoming EGH Campus, and how we are going to engage our friends and residents in the community to reimagine the future of healthcare together.

EGH Campus’ development journey

2.          Close to two years ago, we had a gathering of partners, friends and members of the community in a big event like this when we officially broke ground for the EGH Campus. Some of you joined us to celebrate the major milestone at our new hospital site, which was just a bare plot of land back then. Following that, we have been making steady progress in various aspects of our development. With each month, we get closer to the year 2029, when Eastern General and Community Hospitals are slated to open and start serving patients. It will be a much-needed injection of additional healthcare capacity and capability in the eastern region of Singapore, which till now has been primarily shouldered by Changi General Hospital.

3.          On the construction front, we completed piling works early last year and commenced main construction of the general and community hospitals a few months later. This is where our hospitals’ physical structures start to take shape, and where steel and concrete – as well as our vision and mission – all come together to create a smart and future-ready hospital that is both high-tech and high-touch.

4.          Beyond construction, we have been working hard to build our team. People are the cornerstone of any organisation. We are proud to have a pioneering team of experienced leaders, clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists and healthcare administrators, many of whom join us from other SingHealth hospitals and national specialty centres. While not yet operational, having the physical foundation casted and the human talent bedrock in place have enabled EGH Campus to be off the blocks with a strong start.

5.          We are now expanding our workforce by ramping up hiring and nesting our staff across SingHealth’s hospitals like Changi General Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital and Singapore General Hospital over the next few years. In this way, we can train new staff and allow our people to gain valuable experience of running hospital operations together. Ultimately, we want to build a hospital team that is professionally equipped and ready to serve patients when the campus is completed.

6.          At the same time, we have been taking meaningful strides towards our vision to build a “phygital” hospital campus. “Phygital” is a portmanteau of two words, “physical” and “digital”. This concept where physical healthcare services and digital solutions are integrated to transform care and improve patient outcomes is what my team and I are working towards for the future hospital. Smart clinical systems will drive care beyond reactive, to be predictive, personalised and continuous. Smart operational and infrastructural systems free clinicians to focus on what matters most – dignity, compassion and human connection.    

7.          We are privileged to advance that today by having SMS Tan with us to unveil the EGH Campus Smart Hospital Roadmap and affirm our commitment towards being a digitally enabled and future-ready hospital campus.

The power of community

8.          It has been a busy but fruitful journey so far, and there is much more for us to work towards. As we push ahead, one thing remains true: COMMUNITY is what makes the EGH Campus story possible. Our community – made up of all of you here today; grassroots, community and healthcare leaders, partners, collaborators, neighbours, residents, and staff – are both the purpose behind our work and the enabler which makes what we do possible.

9.          In fact, today’s Health Fest theme, “Reimagining Healthcare with You”, aptly reflects our firm belief in the power of the community. Reimagining and transforming healthcare cannot be achieved by the EGH Campus team alone. It must be done together with you, by all of us, as one community.

10.       In the months and years ahead, we remain committed to working closely with grassroots and community partners to engage residents and let their voices shape our care. We will deepen connections with our neighbours and residents, who have been so welcoming and patient with us as construction takes place. We will strengthen relationships grounded in trust and shared purpose, so that we can co-create a robust healthcare ecosystem.

EGH Campus Health Fest

11.       Today’s EGH Campus Health Fest is brought to you jointly by EGH Campus with community and industry partners. You will get to enjoy showcases, booths and activities not only on health, but also digital innovation and health technology demonstrations. I would like to express my appreciation to all the partners who are part of today’s event. Thank you for sharing in our vision, and for joining us to make the Health Fest a meaningful one for the community.   

Closing

12.       In closing, Eastern General and Community Hospitals will endeavour to be immersive and be one with the community. We have our sight firmly on our vision of building a great hospital for the community and a great workplace for our staff. While being “phygital” is a key enabler to our mission, technology is not the headline. Safer and more personalised care, better outcomes, and empowered patients are.     

13.       I would like to thank SMS Tan for taking the time to grace this event today and for unveiling our Smart Hospital Roadmap.

14.       I wish everyone an enjoyable start to the weekend. Let’s work together to live well and stay well. Thank you.