SINGAPORE, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Singapore has introduced new Healthcare Facility Design Standards aimed at building public hospitals better, faster and more efficiently to meet rising healthcare demand.
Speaking at the launch event on Tuesday, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said the standards draw on insights from clinicians, operators, and lessons from past projects. They cover architectural and interior design, medical planning, mechanical and electrical systems, and construction methods.
"Take for example, we have now standardized ward layouts, wayfinding designs, plumbing systems, and lifts," he said, noting that the standards will continue to evolve over time. Hospitals can still differentiate themselves through their care models, he added.
Ong said that long development timelines have been a persistent challenge. The Woodlands Health Campus, for instance, took a decade to complete, partly due to COVID-19 delays. The new Eastern General Hospital, now under development, is expected to take about eight and a half years.
Beyond standardizing hospital designs, Singapore is also streamlining project review and approval processes, and involving contractors and consultants earlier in development and design to further shorten timelines. ■