The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Medicine Institute (MMI) is located at Block 27, Medical Drive, DSO (Kent Ridge) Building (Defence Science Organisation (Kent Ridge) Building), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117510. Telephone number: 6485 7400/6485 7401

Officially unveiled on 11 June 2004, the MMI's vision is to be a centre of excellence in clinical military medicine. Its mission is to provide professional treatment and quality healthcare in the areas of specialist medical and dental care, medical grading, and inpatient care to ensure the efficient sustenance of the SAF's fighting strength.

Through the provision of specialised medical and dental services and inpatient care, the MMI serves the SAF by optimising the treatment and recovery of servicemen with significant medical problems. This will translate into a greater operational readiness of SAF units as well as the improved well-being of military personnel. Timely medical grading of servicemen allows soldiers to be deployed effectively in service while minimising the impact on operational readiness and personal health.

Services available[]

Deployment medicine
Dermatology
Ear, nose and throat
Internal medicine
Medical grading
Occupational medicine
Orthopaedics
Ophthalmology
Psychological care
Specialist dental centre
Sports medicine

Concept[]

The conceptualisation of the MMI began in 1995 with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) seeking closer collaboration. The idea was to juxtapose such a facility with a hospital to maximise expertise and resources. The SAF also recognised the need to provide secondary level medical care tailored to various military vocations.

"It was conceptualised this way, but obviously it couldn't start big at that time, so we started on a smaller scale at different locations," recalled Deputy Commander MMI, LTC (Dr) Fan Swee Weng. In the early days, the various clinics and services were operated from three different locations: Loewen Road Camp, Depot Road Camp and Alexandra Hospital.

In December 2012, all these clinics and offices came under one roof at the DSO (Kent Ridge) Building, with the exception of inpatient care for psychiatric patients, which remains at Alexandra Hospital. "It was a great opportunity to maximise all our resources and put together all these capabilities to harness and maximise what each of these services can provide," LTC (Dr) Fan enthused.

The MMI, a subunit of Headquarters, SAF Medical Corps (HQMC), is responsible for the provision of predeployment medical services, musculoskeletal injury care, psychological, trauma and stress support, visual care and performance enhancement, as well as cardiopulmonary assessment.

It is the healthcare command of the SAF Medical Corps that develops healthcare policies and manages all healthcare matters for the SAF. The vision of the MMI is to be a first class system for the provision of primary care, emergency care and specialist care to support SAF soldiers in training and operations. It comprises the Primary Health Services, Specialist Health Services, Dental Branch, Health Care Branch, Medical Affairs and Health Care Programs Office, as well as a Medical Information Technology Office.

Under its command are primary care medical centres across SAF camps that provide primary and emergency healthcare, as well as primary dental care, for personnel in the SAF. All medical centres are equipped with Body Cooling Units for treatment of heat injuries. Quality healthcare delivery is a priority for the Medical Corps, with all its health facilities certified to the International Organisation for Standardization ISO-9001 and the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS) standards. The SAF deploys an electronic medical records system known as the Patient Care Enhancement System or PACES, which allows central archiving and access to the health information of all SAF Servicemen regardless of the medical facility at which they are attended to. PACES is connected to the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system that allows healthcare professionals to view records across the national healthcare network. This ensures seamless and efficient information transfer for servicemen as they transit between the SAF and public healthcare system.

Specialist Health Service operates specialist outpatient clinics for the following specialties: orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, sports medicine and occupational medicine. In addition, the MMI also runs 2 specialist centres: (1) SAF Vision Performance Centre, and (2) SAF Psychological Counselling Centre. SAF servicemen and women are able to receive specialist dental care (e.g. endodontics) at specialist dental clinics located at the MMI.

Directions[]

By bus[]

Modes of public transport that have stops nearby:

MRT - Circle Line; nearest MRT station - Buona Vista MRT station
Bus - service numbers 197, 95, 97, TS6

There is also a free shuttle bus from Buona Vista MRT station or Dover MRT station to the National University Hospital (NUH).

To get there from the bus stop near the Ministry of Education building which is opposite Buona Vista MRT station, take bus 95 and get down at the Faculty of Science. Then turn left to go to the light grey, aluminium-clad building which houses the MMI. The reception counter is manned by NS personnel who may take the reporting serviceman's temperature. Servicemen may turn up in civilian attire. No photography is allowed, though patients may bring their phones in subject to checks. The doctors are friendly and approachable.

By car or taxi[]

Park or drop off at Lecture Theatre 27 (LT27) in (NUS). Walk through the science canteen past a POSB ATM and head uphill. Make a sharp left just before a UOB ATM. Head straight down the narrow path to the MMI.