New Primary Care Research Institute to boost SingHealth Polyclinics

The SingHealth Polyclinics and its partners will explore new models of primary care.

The SingHealth Polyclinics has launched the Primary Care Research Institute (PCRI) in a bid to reshape primary care models in Singapore.

In a speech during the launch, Dr. Janil Puthucheary, senior minister of state in MOH and Ministry of Communications and Information, revealed the three main themes of PCRI that will cover the vision of the primary care sector.

The first theme is to conduct primary healthcare research amidst the challenges in Singapore such as the ageing population.

“As a collaborative platform across the polyclinics to the private clinics and the industry, PCRI is set to play an important role in responding quickly, through research, to key problem statements in primary care today; conducting and translating research into concrete, implementable, and cost-effective solutions are needed,” said Puthucheary.

Second, the PCRI will support multidisciplinary primary care professionals, including family doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, in enhancing their skills and acquiring research skills.

“These professionals will then be able to benefit from the PCRI's workshops and e-learning platforms, which provide updates on evidence-based medicine and research methodology,” said Puthucheary.

The third theme, the PCRI will facilitate improved self-care and raise health literacy among the general population. 

“This will be done through the co-creation and validation of technology tools, enabling access to high-quality and cost-effective primary care that is informed by the latest research findings and fueled by innovation,” added Puthucheary.