Khoo Teck Puat Hospital board urged to 'run a little wild'
The 550-bed Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) under construction in Yishun boasts a board of directors that would not look out of place in a multinational corporation.
Announced by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday, more than half of the 11-member board — described by hospitality and charity veteran Jennie Chua as a "private sector" hospital board — are not medically trained.
Headed by Ms Chua, the board — which has a three-year tenure — includes non-doctors such as food entrepreneur Douglas Foo of Apex-Pal International; Citi Private Bank managing director and region head Tan Su Shan; Mr Ramlee Buang, executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Cerebos Pacific and Mr Tham Kui Seng, chief corporate officer of CapitaLand.
"We made some effort to scout around … and we looked for talent from different sectors," Mr Khaw told the media at a community event yesterday. "The idea of forming (this particular) board is to stretch their imagination. We would like to get them to think out of the box, so that they can push the boundary ... (and) look at crazy ideas. The key point is: Do patients find it useful?"
The board will not come under the purview of the two national healthcare clusters — the National Healthcare Group and SingHealth. But Mr Khaw said his ministry would ensure that patient fees are kept in line with other healthcare facilities in Singapore.
A key factor behind the decision for "a slightly different governance model", he said, was the $125-million donation from the family of the late Mr Khoo. This sum includes $5 million set aside every year for five years as part of a welfare fund to help needy patients.
This model for KTPH — which also got major funding from the Government — would let the Khoo family stay involved, as well as to rope in talent from other fields. Goodwood Park Hotel chairman and managing director Mavis Khoo sits on the KTPH board to represent the Khoo Teck Puat Foundation.
The team running Alexandra Hospital (AH) will take charge of KTPH. AH's chief executive Liak Teng Lit said the 3.4-ha development was "three months behind our expected schedule" due to the labour and sand squeeze in the building sector, but he is optimistic it would open as planned in 2010.
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