The National University of Singapore (NUS) launched a new integrative initiative to improve public health and healthcare delivery in Asia. This effort was made possible with a funding of S$17 million over 10 years from the GSK-EDB Trust Fund, which was established as part of the GSK-Singapore 10-year Strategic Roadmap. The setting up of the NUS Initiative to Improve Health in Asia (NIHA) was announced by Singapore Health Minister Mr Khaw Boon Wan at the East Asia Healthcare Policy Dialogue, a symposium organised at the sidelines of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting.

This new initiative aims to make a significant contribution to thinking and policy-formulation in public health and health systems development in Asia, and to elevate Singapore to a leading position in healthcare policy and related research. NIHA will be coordinated by the NUS Global Asia Institute (NUS-GAI), in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and the NUS Business School.

Said Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, “The world faces formidable challenges in public health and optimal healthcare delivery. NUS, with the support from the GSK-EDB Trust Fund, is pleased to lead an integrative effort to help address these challenges for Asia, for the future. With active involvement of our policy and research partners in Singapore and across Asia, NIHA has great potential to contribute significantly to the policy and healthcare sector in this part of the world.”

NIHA will focus on three key areas, namely research, high-level policy forums and leadership programmes. It will facilitate highly multi-disciplinary collaborative research by experts in the healthcare policy field within NUS, including the Faculties, Schools and Centres of Excellence; and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, as well as other institutions in Singapore and internationally with the relevant expertise, such as the Health Sciences Authority Academy. NIHA’s research will have a regional orientation and application.