Singapore's Health Minister KhawBoon Wan said that creating a hassle free healthcare system for each region in Singapore is a major strategy his ministry is pushing, local media reported on Monday.

It will make healthcare more convenient, safer and better at the lowest possible cost, local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported.

Khaw pointed out that the traditional institution-centric approach to healthcare will no longer be adequate due to Singapore's ageing population. He expected local acute hospitals to work closely with key healthcare partners, such as community hospitals, nursing homes, general practitioners (GPs), home healthcare teams and hospices, with all taking a patient-centric approach in their daily work.

He added that to achieve success requires "integration of care" between all the healthcare providers along the entire range of services, from acute hospital specialists to GPs to home nurses to home palliative care teams.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2009)